Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery (Echo Falls)

Book Description

Welcome to Echo Falls, home of a thousand secrets.

Ingrid is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or at least her shoes are. And getting them back will mean getting tangled up in a murder investigation as complicated as the mysteries solved by her idol, Sherlock Holmes. With soccer practice, schoolwork, and the lead role in her town's production of Alice in Wonderland, Ingrid is swamped. But as things in Echo Falls keep getting curiouser and curiouser, Ingrid realizes she must solve the murder on her own -- before it's too late!

Customer Reviews:

well written young person mystery.......2007-08-14

I don't normally read fiction. But I purchased the book on the assumption it was relevant to the What the Bleep movie and book. And while there's a relationship it was not as tenuous as I would have liked.

An absolute delight.......2007-07-09

First Sentence: Ingrid Levin-Hill, three weeks past her thirteenth birthday, sat thinking in her orthodontist's waiting room.

Young Ingrid Level-Hill, trying to get to soccer practice on time, ends up lost. A woman known as Cracked-up Katie, invites Ingrid into her house. Ingrid thinks her hears someone upstairs but it's when she mentions she's trying out for the latest play put on by the Prescott Player in old Prescott Hall that Katie's mood changes and she hustles Ingrid out of the house, unfortunately leaving behind her distinctive red soccer cleats.. The next day, when Ingrid learns Katie has been murdered, Ingrid needs to recover her shoes to avoid awkward questions but she also decides to find out who killed Katie.

I so enjoyed this book. Ingrid comes from a family very typical for today; two working parents tied up in their own concerns but expecting their children to excel, the brother Ty at football and Ingrid at soccer scholastically, and Grampy, the solid, grounded influence in Ingrid's life. Ingrid is smart, gutsy and loves Sherlock Holmes and we see grow and mature during the story. The plot is good, with moments of suspense. I did identify the villain fairly early, but there was a nice twist at the end I appreciated. The book is targeted for young adults, who I do think would really enjoy it, but I consider myself young at heard and I found it delightful.

Fantaspamistical!!!.......2007-06-02

I read this 400+ page book in less than a day. I could not put it down. You get so wrapped in the story and trying to figure out the mystery. I felt proud of myself when I was a step ahead of the main character. This is a well written book and is worth the read. I am excited to get my hands on the sequel.

Getting Lost is Murder.......2007-04-30

Ingrid is just trying to get to soccer practice on time. She decides to run there instead of wait for her mom, but a wrong turn gets her lost in the wrong part of town. This leads to a chance encounter with Katie Kovak - Cracked-Up Katie to the kids in town. Ingrid thinks nothing of it until she reads in the paper that Katie was murdered that night.

Ingrid knows she was probably the last person to see Katie alive. But she's afraid of getting into trouble, so she decides to stay quiet.

Then, to her horror, she discovers that she left her cleats behind at Katie's house. Sneaking back to get them, she gets herself into even deeper trouble. Now, the only way out is to find the real killer. Can she do it?

I realize I'm not part of the target age group. But I usually enjoy kid's books, and this one sounded good. Unfortunately, I was ultimate disappointed.

The characters were great, especially Ingrid. The problem was the plot. It started out extremely slowly, while several sub-plots about Ingrid's life were introduced. The killer was fairly obvious, although I didn't have everything pegged, so I'll let that slide.

My biggest problem with the book is all the sneaking around, lying, and rule breaking that Ingrid did. Usually, that doesn't bother me, and it happens in just about every book I read. This time, it was so blatantly in your face that it really bothered me.

While the target market will probably enjoy this book more than I did, I just can't recommend it because of Ingrid's bad behavior.

Twistedly brillant! Entralling to the last page!.......2007-01-22

Even though I'm typically not much for mysteries, I found this book fasinating. It was a quick and easy read. The adventure begins in Echo Falls, a relatively small place where Ingrid Levin-Hill, an eighth grader at Ferrand Middle lives. However, was a so-called "crazy" woman is killed, Ingrid will find disturbing secrets that she never knew about! It's a true page turner, and, for once, I actually knew who the murderer was. I would recommend this to anyone.

Particle Physics: A Comprehensive Introduction

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Particle Physics: A Comprehensive Introduction
Abraham Seiden
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805387366

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon: A Pop-up Book

Average customer rating:

The Girl who loved to bore you for 260+ Pages!
Stephen King Fan? Must Have!!
A Five-Star Short Novel
I Don't Particularly care for baseball...
Well told story, but really not in King's TOP 10...

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon: A Pop-up Book
Stephen King , and Kees Moerbeek
Manufacturer: Little Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pop-Up

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ASIN: 0689862725
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Amazon.com

Trisha McFarland is a plucky 9-year-old hiking with her brother and mom, who is grimly determined to give the kids a good time on their weekends together. Trisha's mom is recently divorced, and her brother is feuding with her for moving from Boston to small-town Maine, where classmates razz him. Trisha steps off the trail for a pee and a respite from the bickering. And gets lost.

Trisha's odyssey succeeds on several levels. King renders her consciousness of increasing peril beautifully, from the "first minnowy flutter of disquiet" in her guts to her into-the-wild tumbles to her descent into hallucinations, the nicest being her beloved Red Sox baseball pitcher Tom Gordon, whose exploits she listens to on her Walkman. The nature writing is accurate, tense, and sometimes lyrical, from the maddening whine of the no-see-um mosquito to the profound obbligato of the "Subaudible" (Trisha's dad's term for nature's intimations of God). Our identification with Trisha deepens as we learn about her loved ones: Dad, a dreamboat whose beer habit could sink him; loving but stubborn Mom; Trisha's best pal, Pepsi Robichaud, vividly evoked by her colorful sayings ("Don't go all GIRLY on me, McFarland!"). The personal associations triggered by a full moon, the running monologue with which she stays sane--we who have been lost in woods will recognize these things.

In King's revealing Amazon.com interview, he said the one book he wishes he'd written was Lord of the Flies. When Trisha confronts a vision of buzzing horror in the middle of the woods, King creates his strongest echo yet of the central passage of Golding's novel. --Tim Appelo

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

With a convincing mix of youthful optimism and world-weary resignation, reader Anne Heche adds resonance to this unabridged recording. Heche is especially effective as the 9-year-old heroine, Trisha McFarland, who makes a fateful decision during an afternoon hike with her dysfunctional family. "The paths had forked in a 'Y.' She would simply walk across the gap and rejoin the main trail. Piece of cake. There was no chance of getting lost." As one might suspect, there is every chance she'll get lost--or worse--and taking the shortcut turns out to be a very bad choice indeed. At times Heche's reading may be too measured, but her narration is generally quite good and her steady portrayal of a young girl lost renders this tale all the more frightening. (Running time: 6.5 hours, 6 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

Stephen King's award-winning, best-selling novel The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is stunningly told in this, the first pop-up book by the master of suspense. It is a fairy tale grimmer than Grimm, retold with intricate pop-ups and a breathtaking text. This is the ultimate must-have edition for Stephen King fans of all ages.

Download Description

Set in New England, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is the gripping tale of nine-year-old Trisha, who wanders off the beaten path of the Appalachian Trail to escape the bickering of her family. When she tries to catch up to them, Trisha strays deeper into a wilderness which, in the hands of America's most frightening writer, becomes a place of primordial terror. Especially when night fails. Trisha has only her wits for navigation, only her ingenuity as a defense against the elements, only her courage and faith to withstand her mounting fear. For solace, she tunes her Walkman to broadcasts of Boston Red Sox games and the gritty performances of her hero, relief pitcher Tom Gordon. And when her radio's batteries die, Trisha begins to imagine that Tom Gordon is with her -- her key to surviving an enemy known only by the slaughtered animals and mangled trees it leaves in its wake. A classic story that engages our emotions at the most primal level, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon explores our deepest fears of the unknown and the extent to which faith can conquer them. It is a fairy tale grimmer than Grimm but aglow with a girl's indomitable spirit.

Customer Reviews:

The Girl who loved to bore you for 260+ Pages!.......2007-09-07

"The girl who loved Tom Gordon" By Stephen King.

In June of 1998 Trisha McFarland has gone on a hike on the Maine branch of the Appalachian Trail with her brother and recently divorced Mother. As usual her mother and brother are arguing. Trisha has to pee so she leaves the trail and low and behold becomes lost in the woods......

This has to be one of the worst books Kings has written and I have read quite a few of them. The story as mentioned revolves around Trisha over a period of 9 days as she tries to find her way out of the woods. There are no other immediate characters and therefore no interaction, almost no dialogue, and almost nothing interesting happening for 260+ pages.

The Good: Nothing really comes to mind

The bad: As mentioned this story is completely boring. You are essentially reading the daily goings on of a 9 year old girl lost in the woods which is not interesting in the least. To make a bad story worse the main character Trisha is not believable as a 9 year old and hence doesn't work. I noticed that she constantly thinks and talks (to herself of course) about things I don't think most 9 year olds in 1998 would know about or think about. She mentions "MASH" the TV show, she mentions "I love Lucy". How many 9 year olds have seen these shows? She mentions V.C. Andrews. How many 9 year olds in 1998 have viewed "Flowers in the Attic" or read the book? She makes reference to a "Serta Perfect Sleeper" mattress and also to receiving junk mail. I just didn't get the since that this was a 9 year old girl. It seemed more like the memories of a 50-60 something writer were slipping into the story.

Overall: Skip this at all cost. If the Author's name wasn't "Stephen King" I don't think this would have ever been published. Try something else.

Stephen King Fan? Must Have!!.......2007-08-15

This book is absolutely beautiful. Any King fan MUST HAVE this, and at such a great price. Don't buy it to read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, buy it to have an amazing piece of work done entirely by the greatest author of my time, Stephen King.

A Five-Star Short Novel.......2007-07-11

I can't believe that the other reviews didn't give this novel five stars. It's not the blood-and-guts scary we're used to with Steven King, but it is scary. A nine-year-old girl becomes lost in the woods of Maine for days and days. What an adventure! And what's following her! I don't want to give anything away, but this story is only lightly supernatural.

It's one of King's best stories in my opinion. The book-on-tape version is also fantastic.

Your comments--positive or negative--are appreciated.

I Don't Particularly care for baseball..........2007-06-10

and i could care even less about the Red Sox, but somehow King found a way to make me care about Trisha McFarland, the heart wrenching and gutsy 9 yearold of, the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. She is lost in the woods, seperated from her bickering and broken family. As our heroine bravely fights the elements of the forests, something imagined or real is after her, it goal to be her demise.

Never a dull moment in this King novel. I just had to finish it in two days because I couldn't put it down. Just the right amount of action and blurbs from outside the forest that Trisha struggles to find a way out off.

Five stars. You will enjoy this short, exciting read.

Well told story, but really not in King's TOP 10..........2007-05-18

I've read quite a few of King's greatest books and this one is very different. First, it is a short novel, so even if you don't love it you may get through it quickly (like I did...).

Second, it is not really scary, the story seems endless and after 150 pages I was tired of the Tom Gordon intrigue. So, why is it not that bad ?!? Well, the main character (Trisha, a little girl lost in the woods) is very attaching and the story is well told by King. The description of the woods and Trisha's feelings is intense and keeps you turning the pages.

So, if you like King's long descriptions and you are in for a short relax read, this book is still a good choice.

Lincoln: A Photobiography (Houghton Mifflin social studies)

Average customer rating:

great content poor construction
Deserving of the Newbery
A fascinating presentation on President Lincoln
Great history book and great biography book
A Review of Lincoln a Photobiography

Lincoln: A Photobiography (Houghton Mifflin social studies)
Russell Freedman
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0395518482

Amazon.com

This work is perhaps the most complete and enjoyable children's book ever written about one of the nation's most fascinating and important figures, Abraham Lincoln. Russell Freedman covers Lincoln's life and career in a balanced treatment that is enhanced by period photographs and drawings. The book won the Newbery Medal, the Jefferson Cup Award and the Golden Kite Honor Book Award, and earned a citation as School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Book Description

A description of the boyhood, marriage, and young professional life of Abraham Lincoln includes his presidential years and also reflects on the latest scholarly thoughts about our Civil War president.

Customer Reviews:

great content poor construction.......2007-07-04

This is a great book for young readers however, be advised I had to order it twice because the pages were falling out of the first book. There is a problem with the glue used in the binding process. The second book arrived and the same problem occured. Because the book was required summer reading for my son who is going into 8th grade, I went to kinkos and spent another $10.00 to have it re-bound. Good luck!

Deserving of the Newbery.......2007-04-19

This biography on Abraham Lincoln is balanced perfectly, a great blend of basic information and detailed facts, without ever becoming irrelevant or too deep. Photographs enhance this effect, including a page that shows the effects of age on Lincoln's face throughout his presidency, and historical artifacts like posters and handwriting samples. This is the perfect Lincoln primer for someone just starting research, or for a middle school student with an assignment.

A fascinating presentation on President Lincoln.......2007-01-10

I'm sure that there are plenty of biographies out there on President Lincoln, but I have not seen any that give us as good a kid-friendly view on him until this one. The photos add an unparalleled personality that draws in the reader, and they truly are beautiful. The book presents a great summary of Lincoln's life and-- most impressively-- even tackles some of the darker moments, as is approriate for the target elementary/middle school audience. It is informatve and an easy, educational read that should prove great for research.

Great history book and great biography book.......2005-09-12

This medium-sized illustrated book on the life of Abraham Lincoln covers the private and public life of one of America's greatest presidents. The book gives good balance to the different stages of Lincoln's life; including his youth, childhood education, teenage years, early days as a country lawyer, entrance into local politics, his marriage, and finally his rise to the presidency and his death. The book does not concentrate on the Civil War, but instead gives a full picture of the man, including his personal traits such as love of storytelling, good humor, and ability to win over people given enough time. Overall, a great book for students in middle school or early high school.

A Review of Lincoln a Photobiography.......2005-04-07

This book is all about Abraham Lincoln from living in the backwoods to the Presidency and the assassination. Before Lincoln became President he was a lawyer and a State and U.S. Congressman. He married Mary Ann Todd and they had four boys.He was a member of the Whig Party until 1856 when he switched to the Repuplican Party. He was elected President in 1860 and led the Union to victory over the Confederates in the Civil War.He was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14,1856. He was watching the play My American Cousin at Ford's theater. The next day he died in a boarding house across the street.I give this book five stars because it was an awesome book. I learned a lot about Lincoln and life in the 1800's. Russell Freedman packed the book with a bunch of interesting facts that kept me reading.It wasn't just about Lincoln.It was also about the Civil War and political issues. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about history, Presidents and likes to read biographies.
Doug
Madison, WI

Abraham Lincoln's World, Expanded Edition

Average customer rating:

Connections
Abraham Lincoln's WORLD
Who would read this book?

Abraham Lincoln's World, Expanded Edition
Genevieve Foster
Manufacturer: Beautiful Feet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1893103161

Book Description

Readers will enjoy an interesting look at not only the man, but the 19th century world in which he lived. Britain's enormous growth and emergence as a democracy, Germany united under Bismarck, Russia freeing the serfs, Japan opened to foreign trade, the U.S. in turmoil over slavery and many other cultural and socio/economic events are all shared in Foster's engaging text laced with her traditional pictures, maps, time lines and graphs. Expanded in 2003 by Genevieve's daughter, Joanna Foster Coppola, to include additional events and characters.

Customer Reviews:

Connections.......2006-11-13

I loved this book and the other Genevieve Foster books (Augustus Caesar's World, George Washington's World) when I was a kid. Foster writes about what was happening all over the world when the main character was alive. The stories are so vivid that I still remember most of them: Benito Juarez growing up in Mexico, a Chinese boy studying for exams while his friend gets hooked on opium . . . Most history is too vertical to let you see connections; this is very horizontal. I developed a lifelong love of history.

Abraham Lincoln's WORLD.......2005-10-08

This book is not about Abraham Lincoln alone, but about the world in which he lived. If you want a biography of Lincoln, this is not the book. BUT if you want to know what was happening in the world that shaped the events that affected his life(and others), this is the book.

Who would read this book? .......2004-11-06

This is absolutely the worst book ever. It jumps around too much and it does not make sense. It has too many chapters. It is packed with too much detail. The book tries to tell everything that happened all over the world at a given time. This makes it too confusing to follow. What a waste of time. What a terrible way to tell the story of Abraham Lincoln's life.

African Folktales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore)

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African Folktales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore)
African folktales with an unusual twist
A Great Feast

African Folktales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore)
Roger Abrahams
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0394721179
Release Date: 1983-08-12

Book Description

Nearly 100 stories from over 40 tribe-related myths of creation, tales of epic deeds, ghost stories and tales set in both the animal and human realms.

Customer Reviews:

African Folktales (Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore).......2007-02-13

I have yet to encounter one of the Pantheon folklore series that was not a good read. This is no exception. My regret is that they have not published more and that some of their folklore books seem out of print. I enjoyed this book and I am happy to recommend it. I knew little of African folklore before reading this book. I plan to look into the subject more.

African folktales with an unusual twist.......2005-08-16

Great tales that help to bring the African storyteller experience home, help teach issues of morality, introduce some of the animal life, paint the lifestyle of women as well as men, and provide the usual creation myths etc. one is accustomed to finding in a book of myths. Explanations to the set of tales, and each section of tales is provided by the author, along with why he believes them to be of importance. I enjoyed them thoroughly because he invites you into his experience.

A Great Feast.......2001-07-18

This book gives a great representation of folktales from all parts of Africa. These tales highlight the variety of the people and societies on the continent, helping to correct the notion of Africa being one big country. While stylistically consistent, the themese touched in the book speak of sophistication. From epics to simple "lesson" tales, Mr. Abrahams has done a great job laying out the stories. His introduction is also superb, though for some reason two stories he mentions in his introduction are not to be found in the book itself. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for the "real folk," and not simply beddy time stories (though some stories here could be used for that too!)

Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step into Reading, Step 3)

Average customer rating:

A Good Reader
Fun History Lesson
Great for younger children
Hat As File Cabinet
Abe Lincoln's Hat

Abe Lincoln's Hat (Step into Reading, Step 3)
Martha Brenner
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679849777
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Book Description

Illus. in full color. Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, started out in life as an absent-minded frontier lawyer. How did he nudge his memory? He stuck letters, court notes, contracts, and even his checkbook in his trademark top hat. When he took off his hat, it was all there!

Customer Reviews:

A Good Reader.......2007-04-23

As a reader, this is a good product. While it may perpetuate some popular myths or stereotypes about Lincoln (big hat, black clothes, simple but wise gentle-man) - so what? More truth than fiction. In that, this little reader does the valuable services of endearing another generation to our greatest President.

Fun History Lesson.......2006-03-10

I read this book to my pre-K class, who just loved it. Learning about Lincoln's hat habit along with the other significant things in his life was great. It made the kids listen to the entire book (hard for some 4 and 5 year-olds). I even had one boy show up the next day with notes in his hat!! My 7-year-old son loves the book too.

Great for younger children.......2006-03-10

I find this a very good book to use with my first graders in learning something about Abe Lincoln. The pictures are good and the anctedotes relate to the children.

Hat As File Cabinet.......2006-02-01

This is a "Step 3" reader in the "Step Into Reading" program. This is a good book that introduces young readers to American history, specifically to Abe Lincoln. We learn that Lincoln's iconic hat was more than simply an item of apparel -- it also served as a "file cabinet" for important papers and letters.

Abe Lincoln's Hat.......2002-04-10

This book is about our sixteenth president,Abe Lincon,
who dresses very sharply. He wears a special hat. The
book tells how Abe Lincon helped people.I will read
this book again and again.

Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Echo Falls)

Average customer rating:

The Soccer Playing Sleuth
The Case Book of Ingrid Levin-Hill
to the reviewer below
Where is the Mystery?
A Classic Mystery with a Smart Protagonist

Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Echo Falls)
Peter Abrahams
Manufacturer: Laura Geringer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060737042
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Book Description

In echo falls you never know what's coming next -- and everyone has a secret. Things are amiss at 99 Maple Lane: Ingrid's dad's job is in jeopardy, but he won't explain why. Ingrid's brother, Ty, is getting buff -- really buff -- but when Ty starts getting moody, Ingrid wonders if there's more to his physical fitness than lifting weights. Meanwhile, Ingrid's beloved soccer coach is replaced by an icy newcomer named Julia LeCaine, who seems a little too savvy to be in it for the postgame pizza. True to her hero, Sherlock Holmes, Ingrid begins fishing around to find out who's really pulling the strings in Echo Falls. But one morning, while en route to the dreaded MathFest, Ingrid is kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car. Even if she escapes, will anyone believe her story?

In this sequel to Down the Rabbit Hole a clever young girl learns that mysterious forces are at work in her town -- and exposing them could put her life in jeopardy.

Customer Reviews:

The Soccer Playing Sleuth.......2007-05-14

Behind the Curtain is the second book featuring thirteen year old Ingrid. This mystery series is set in the small town of Echo Falls. Ingrid seems to be your typical middle school student who likes playing soccer, acting in plays, and eating ice cream. She is not too thrilled with school, math class in particular, but loves Sherlock Holmes. She is very good at observing small details like Holmes, her hero. It is through observing various oddities, like her dad throwing away the newspaper or her brother's increasing acne, that she begins to realize all is not well in her house.

Peter Abrahams does a good job of keeping the story moving and interesting while also interspersing it with the mundane things that a young teen must do such as homework or a trip to the orthodontist. The mysteries are convoluted enough to be intriguing, yet there are an abundance of clues so that an astute reader could figure them out. The issues Ingrid ends up investigating are pretty serious and do not necessarily have feel good happy endings. There are a few loose ends left at the end of the book: Why was Grampy at the hospital? Why was Chloe so upset? Hopefully these will be addressed in the next edition of the Echo Falls mystery series. I'm looking forward to it.

The Case Book of Ingrid Levin-Hill.......2006-08-19

Once again Peter Abrahams returns to the world of Echo Falls, where young Ingrid Levin-Hill is just trying to get by, navigating the slippery slopes of being a kid in the 21st century. While basically she's got a warm and protective family, there's always some friction going on, just like real life. In this book Ty's problem with anabolic steroids becomes more and more the center of Ingrid's worries. She notices things about him her mom and dad are just to preoccupied to see, or too blind, for they're proud of him and his success in organized sport in school.

Meanwhile her dad, who as we all remember works for a corporation owned by the richest man in town, feels threatened by the incursion of a new, chic, blonde dynamo who's become thisclose to the boss. Ferrand's not only wealthy, but evil, and Ingrid wouldn't put it past him to dump her dad in favor of this new executive woman, Julia LeCaine, who as it happens is also the new coach of her soccer team and sort of ruthless. At 99 Maple Lane everyone's got a secret (except Mom, and I bet that will be in the next book in the series) and the gorgeous scenery of Echo Falls is often ironically counterpointed to the nasty behavior of its human residents.

Grampy (Aylmer Hill) is still alive, though he's sinking, and his farm is under siege from developers led by the same Ferrand Group that his son-in-law works for. It would be a great coup for Dad in the company if he was the one who secured the land away from Grampy. Ingrid doesn't want to see that happen.

In the middle of all this, she is falling in love, not a huge passionate love but a solid friendship with Joey Strade, the solid son of the town's Police Chief. Ingrid doesn't really know how she feels about that! Peter Abrahams weaves all these threads into a fantastic thriller for kids of all ages. Ingrid's love of Conan Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes stories guides her through a world of trouble. "As Ho;mes told Watson," she reminds herself, "Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details." I rate this book higher than DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE and, unlike the other reviewers here who claim they knew the answer to the mystery right away, I was honestly baffled and shocked by the multiple endings. What will be next for Ingrid? "An Awfully Big Adventure"? Without a doubt.

to the reviewer below.......2006-07-28

some 13 year olds read Sherlock Holmes. Not all kids have been affected by the dumbing down of America.

Where is the Mystery?.......2006-07-09

There isn't really any mystery. My 3rd Grader figured it out. There are no Red Herrings. No surprises. It's pretty lame. It's pretty much the same as the first one. A formula to make money... it's so obvious. It uses the background of a classic children's book and mixes it (unsuccessfully) with a lame mystery. I've read both and because I am huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz I decided the formula could be charming. It's not. It's just to sell books to consumers like me. Stephen King reccommended the first book. I think it's just more that he likes the author. The book really isn't good at all. It's not enjoyable. The characters are flat. Ingrid is basically more of the author than a girl. What girl that's 13 reads Sherlock Holmes? The formula for this series doesn't work. It's not charming. She doesn't have cool friends. There needs to be more shout outs to the books it's using to market with... blah, blah, blah. There are much better books out there... and much better mysteries (that are actually mysteries). This book is just lame.

A Classic Mystery with a Smart Protagonist.......2006-07-07

Behind the Curtain : An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams is the second book in the Echo Falls series, after last year's Down the Rabbit Hole. These are Abrahams's first children's/young adult books, after writing many adult mysteries. I really enjoyed Down the Rabbit Hole, because it was a classic sort of mystery, with clues and red herrings and all of that, with a smart, realistic 13-year-old girl as the protagonist.

Behind the Curtain picks up not long after the solution of the previous mystery, and continues many of the family-related threads left open in the first book. Ingrid finds herself investigating steroid use at the local high school, while worrying about her brother's health, the stability of her father's job, and the pressure on her grandfather to sell his farm. Ingrid's Dad is particularly cranky in this installment, as he reacts poorly to competition at work. But Grampy remains his quirky and lovable self.

Here's my problem with this book, however. I saw the solution to all of the open questions very very early into the book. It was just too easy. Now, I know that I'm not the target age range for this book, and that I've read a lot more mysteries than most 13-year-olds have. But I still have trouble believing that kids wouldn't see the end coming a long way off.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. It's well-written. Abrahams has an excellent sense for the way kids think and interact. I like the town that Ingrid lives in, and I like the way family dynamics play an important part in the story. I also like Ingrid (she's on the Cool Girls list), and after two books, I feel like I know her pretty well. She trusts her own instincts, and she doesn't let anyone push her around. I'll certainly look for the next book in the series. I just hope that Abrahams learns to trust his readers a bit more, and ratchets up the mystery a bit.

[...]

Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator (Childhood of Famous Americans)

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Honest Abe
A lot better than I thought it would be!
Interesting.

Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Augusta Stevenson
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0020420307

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Honest Abe.......2006-08-11

Abraham Lincoln the Great Emancipator is a book written by Augusta Stevenson. It is 192 page biography.
Abe lived in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

This story begins when Abe was a little boy, in Kentucky.

He learned the ways of the forest, walking without making noise, learned to cover tracks and follow them, learned to hide, learned to crawl through grass without making it move.
He learned the sounds of the forest and animals.

His family moved to Indiana, this is when Abe was homeschooled, he was 10 years old at the time.

Abe loved to read, write and to learn from books and people.
He would walk for miles to borrow a book, and walk miles to return it.

Abraham Lincoln was called "honest Abe" because of his integrity. He was also a very hard worker, always polite, funny, a good story teller and cared for others.

No wonder he made a good president of the United States.

A lot better than I thought it would be!.......2000-03-28

My mom was always encouraging me to read biograhies. One day, my mom sat me on a chair and forced me to read at least one chapter. I didn't think I would like it, but I loved it! Tons of info on Abe Lincoln! Some conversations were added to make it more interesting, but most of it was true. I am reading tons of bios from the same series (the Childhood of Famous Americans series). I would encouage everyone to read this book and other books of the series!

Interesting........1998-03-16

This has been one of the more interesting biographys I read. This book focoses in more on his childhood than more on his life in polotics.

Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims

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A 'must-read" for all

Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims
Reuven Firestone
Manufacturer: Ktav Publishing House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0881257206

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A 'must-read" for all.......2006-10-12

Having read its most unimpressive sister book, "Introduction to Islam for Jews" by Duran, I approached this book with trepidation but I was soon pleasantly proven wrong!

Firestone's work clearly shows his grasp of Islam by liberal and appropriate use of quotes from the Quran; his compassionate and intellectual approach when making comparisons between the two faiths and his grasp of Hebrew and Arabic etymology, is refreshing and inspiring. He demonstrates that teaching Muslims about Judaism goes much further if one draws from both faiths and Firestone does this very well. Indeed, the parallels between the two faiths and their common origins are wonderful and instructive!

Firestone's approach to faith, Judaism and Islam, showed a rare, admirable spirituality that is seldom found even in books about faith. He easily managed to expound on Judaism without going into the quagmire of Israel politics; this helped me study the subject without defensiveness.

One issue I have with the book is the note on "The Pact of Umar". According to Firestone, this was a treaty between Caliph Umar and some unknown but presumably Jewish leaders. Apparently, this so-called "Pact" put Jews in a menial position, forcing them to be abjectly fawning towards Muslims as well as banning them from holding any key public offices or even repairing their synagogues.

In reality the earliest and only known example of this "Pact" is a translation of a supposed early letter from some unknown person who wrote a letter to some European figure. This unearthing came in the form of a hand-out by a Professor in Edinburgh in the 1970s; the origin of this letter still remains unknown. Even in this first exposure to the "Pact", it is a treaty between Caliph Umar and Christians of Syria...no mention of Jews at all.

The "Pact" also fails the logic test. In Firestones excellent book, Jews are described as holding many public offices even to the rank of Vizier (Prime Minister). The "Pact" also cannot explain why Muslim houses of worship were in the same state of repair or disrepair in the early 20th Century, as those of Judaism and Christianity. Nevertheless, mention of this "Pact" was the only distraction in an otherwise superb work.

Throughout the book, Firestone teaches an immense amount about Judaism without preaching, a virtue that is a rare gift. He reserves the final section ("Chronology") on listing significant events in the history of Jews and Israelites. Regardless of how one may feel about the politics of Israel and Palestine, one cannot finish reading this book without developing a deep understanding and respect for the seemingly endless string of persecutions that Jews suffered and an admiration of how Judaism overcame all of it while maintaining a compassionate outlook towards the world.

In any study of Judaism or comparisons of Judaism with Islam, this book has to be on the "must read" list. Even for Christians, this is most valuable.
Very well done indeed!

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