The Runner (The Tillerman Series #4)

Book Description

A SPEEDING BULLET

Bullet Tillerman runs. He runs to escape the criticism of his harsh, unforgiving father. He runs to numb the pain of his mother's inability to express her love. He is the star of the school track team, but he isn't a team man and doesn't want to be. Bullet runs for himself.

Bullet is unlikely choice to be asked to coach a new, African-American team member. But in coaching Tamer Shipp, Bullet learns some things about himself -- who he is, and who he can perhaps become.

Customer Reviews:

Why we are how we are.......2007-06-30

This novel (a prequel to Homecoming) may be one of the very best revelations of why it is that so many gifted young people simply cannot see beyond their (mostly imagined) limitations and end up so badly. Although the central character, Bullet, is not very sympathetic at the beginning of the novel, painfully he changes and engages the reader. Yet, in spite of his gained insights and his talents and opportunities, they are not enough to save him.
A stunner of a book, especially for adolescents. I simply cannot imagine why this book has not been reviewed (and enthusiastically) before now; it is well written to a fault, economical in style, true and poignant. I have taught it to many young people, none of whom have failed to be moved by it. One of Voigt's absolute best. You will not regret buying and reading it, and my bet is that you will then try to turn other people on to it. Never trust anyone who says, "Trust me", but trust me on this.

Average customer rating:

Over to soon
Taming the Star Runner- By S.E. Hinton
Michael's review
Taming the Star Runner
Big Tex

Taming the Star Runner
S.E. Hinton
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440204798
Release Date: 1989-10-01

Book Description

“A powerful story. . . . Travis is Everyteen: part insecure hell-raiser, part closet intellectual, prone to both sneers and tears. Hinton continues to grow more reflective in her books, but her great understanding, not of what teenagers are but of what they can hope to be, is undiminished.”—Kirkus Reviews

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Customer Reviews:

Over to soon.......2006-06-21

This was over all a good book. I thought it was over to soon and not all in a good way. The climax of the story happens to quickly and after there is a hasty conclusion like SE Hinton was in a hurry to finish it. The story was good though and I still enjoyed the book.

The question "What If?" plays a big part in the story. We all ask that-What if i had... whould things have been better? They would have been different but if we had chosen the other option we would still be sitting around wondering what if. Learn to make the choice you want and move on. We can't change the past so look to the future.

Taming the Star Runner- By S.E. Hinton.......2006-03-22

Book Review By Sam K.

In S.E. Hinton's Taming the Star Runner, a sixteen year old boy named Travis travels to the countryside to visit his uncle Ken. Travis is a tough looking city boy who can get himself out of any situation, and he has a hard time making friends at the "hick school." He decides to go to the barn to meet Casey, who introduces him to the Star Runner, a crazy untamed horse. Later Travis finds that he and the Star Runner have a lot in common.
I didn't care for this book because it didn't have a lot to do with the Star Runner. I think S.E. Hinton should have added more detail on how the Star Runner got tamed. I would recommend this book to a young adult like Travis: a procrastinator from the city. I think this because I feel if you're like the character you can understand more about the story you're being told. It was an okay book.

Michael's review.......2006-01-17

The main character's name is Travis, a city boy who drinks, smokes, and gets into a lot of trouble. He is sent to live on a horse ranch with his uncle because he beat his stepfather with a fire poker. He meets a girl named Casey who is trying to train a horse named Star Runner. He is sixteen, a writer, and is having a book published. He has a hard time getting used to living in the country and learning how to train a horse.
I liked this book. The last three chapters were the best in the book. They really got my interest.
I would recommend this book to high school students, especially to kids who like horses or ride in show. It was an easy book to read, and it has a surprise ending that turns the book around.
The main character's name is Travis, a city boy who drinks, smokes, and gets into a lot of trouble. He is sent to live on a horse ranch with his uncle because he beat his stepfather with a fire poker. He meets a girl named Casey who is trying to train a horse named Star Runner. He is sixteen, a writer, and is having a book published. He has a hard time getting used to living in the country and learning how to train a horse.
I liked this book. The last three chapters were the best in the book. They really got my interest. I would recommend this book to high school students, especially to kids who like horses or ride in show. It was an easy book to read, and it has a surprise ending that turns the book around.

Taming the Star Runner.......2006-01-09

Taming the Star Runner is a book about a teenage boy who is addicted to many bad things and one night his father is hurting his mother so he hits him with a fire poker. His parents send him to his uncle's house to cool down and he learns alot about being a real man and how to quit smoking. This is realistic fiction book. I would give it 5 stars.
This book is suitble for ages 12-18 and does have some language issues. this book tells a great story and has a happy ending. To learn more you will have to read the book.

Big Tex.......2005-11-23

In the book Taming Star Runner, Tex is the main character in this book. He is fourteen year old boy that lives with his brother Mason. Mason is his older brother and he is about seventeen years old. Tex has always wanted to be an author because ever since he was in grade school he had been writing comics and he would always be the on telling scary stories about at the camp firer. Once his brother sarted to find out what he is doing that made him made. If you have brothers and maybe even sisters then you would know what his life is like. His brother and he get in much fight and in some cases one or the other may get hurt. They used to live with their dad and now they live by themselves. The book never told me where their dad had gone, but he has been gone for five months now. Some of the problems that the boys have been having in the book Taming Star Runner are that they make fake id and they go out drinking get in trouble they don't tell each other all of their problems. I don't want to tell you too much because I would like for you to read it to find out about the end.

Things that I did like about the book are that it is more of a western type of book. It doesn't seem like a western book, but really the boys live on a ranch and they help people train horses. This book also has a little bit of adventures in it. I am one of those guys that live on a farm and I hate reading, but if I find a good book then I like to read.

Some of the people that would like to read this book are people with adventurous and some of the authors would be Will Hobbs, and Gary Paulsen. The people that like more of a true story then they would like this book to read.

Average customer rating:

Taking the "Reluctance" Out of Readers
Strong to the end!!- Passion Writer 123
runner book review
runner book rewiew
Runner book review

Runner
Carl Deuker
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618542981

Book Description

But the weather-beaten sailboat Chance Taylor and his father call home is thirty years old and hasn't sailed in years. One step from both homelessness and hunger, Chance worries about things other kids his age never give a thought: Where will the money come for the electricity bill, grocery bill, and moorage fees? So when a new job falls his way, he jumps at the opportunity. He knows how much he will earn; what he doesn't know is how much he will pay.

Customer Reviews:

Taking the "Reluctance" Out of Readers.......2007-07-02

Carl Deuker's RUNNER should attract both teachers of reluctant readers and young readers who feel that reading is not for them. The beginning is interesting enough with its high school bullying episodes and questions of rich (as embodied by romantic interest Melissa Watts) vs. poor kids (our protagonist Chance Taylor, who lives on a small sailboat on a marina's dock), but the book really takes off when recreational runner Chance gets an offer he wants to but cannot refuse -- running mysterious packages in exchange for cash like he and his alcoholic ne'er-do-well father have never seen.

Here the high-octane plot takes off, running away with a reader who can't help but hold on to find out what's happening. Are the packages drugs? Explosives? Money? And who are the mysterious people leaving them behind in the cracks of a retaining wall near a beach on Puget Sound? Chance really doesn't want to know, but soon events take a dangerous turn, and if he cannot work up the guts to seek out the truth, it turns out the truth might be ready to seek him out -- with dire results.

Known for his sports books, Deuker here shows a skill for pacing and plot in a thriller that will keep readers guessing until the spectacular finish. Although it touches on themes of patriotism and social class, RUNNER shouldn't be read for any deep characterization or rich description; realize instead that it is a book meant to entertain with a fast-moving story that should win over even the most reluctant of readers. Teachers should keep it on hand for students who will only try a fast-read, and young readers looking for a quick and engaging plot should "play Chance" by running some packages that may or may not make them an accomplice to a crime.

Strong to the end!!- Passion Writer 123.......2006-11-26

Chance is teenager living an unusually hard life. His father is an alcoholic who can neither pay the morgage nor face the truth of their tough situation. When Chance is offered a well-paying job, he must either forget the immorality of it or forget the job. The longer he stays in the buisness, despite his slight ignorance, the deeper he gets. When a suicide or possible murder occurs, Chance must be exteremly cautious to let no one get involved, expecially not someone he cares about. But of course he meets a girl- how ironic!!!
Great work of literature. I recomend this novel to all ya/teen readers.

runner book review.......2006-09-18

Chance is the main character in the book called Runner. This book was written by Carl Deuker. Chance and his dad live on a boat in a marina. His dad is having problems paying moorage fees and other expenses. Chance has to help him out. Chance's dad is an alcoholic and a bum spending the rest of his spare change on beer. The father would rather sit out on his tiny boat drinking than helping his son. Chance is having many problems in his life when his mom leaves them to go on and do something more with her life.
Everyone on the pier knows that Chance's dad just got fired from his job. A stranger who nobody has seen before works in the marina office and asks Chance if he needs money to help his dad out. Chance doesn't think twice about this decision. All he has to do is jog a mile to a point, look for a package, then jog back with the package. If there is a package at the point, Chance returns it to the office marina guy. Every week Chance receives $200 dollars for running his normal jog route and returning packages that are there at the point. Chance is desperate for money to keep his boat and his spot on the pier. This job appears easy to Chance. He doesn't think about the contents of the packages and the possible consequences.
In this heart-pounding thriller, Carl Deuker combines global concerns and the threat of terrorism with the everyday worries of a teen who only wants to keep his life together until graduation. Supported by a smart, politically aware girl in his history class, Chance learns there's a lot more to patriotism than just waving a flag, and a lot more to courage than just following rules he knows may be wrong. This timely, complex story will make you think twice about the choices you make and what it means to be brave.
I personally liked this book a lot. It has several good parts in this story and some bad parts too. In life you want to make good choices and not bad ones. The moral of the story is to always think before you act.

runner book rewiew.......2006-09-18

Chance is the main character in the book called Runner. This book was written by Carl Deuker. Chance and his dad live on a moat in a marina. His dad is having problems paying moorage fees and other expenses. Chance has to help him out. Chance's dad is an alcoholic and a bum spending the rest of his spare change on beer. The father would rather sit out on his tiny boat drinking than helping his son. Chance is having many problems in his life when his mom leaves them to go on and do something more with her life.
Everyone on the pier knows that Chance's dad just got fired from his job. A stranger who nobody has seen before works in the marina office and asks Chance if he wants needs money to help his dad out. Chance doesn't think twice about this decision. All he has to do is jog a mile to a point, look for a package, then jog back with the package. If there is a package at the point, Chance returns it to the office marina guy. Every week Chance receives $[...] dollars for running his normal jog route and returning packages that are there at the point. Chance is desperate for money to keep his boat and his spot on the pier. This job appears easy to Chance. He doesn't think about the contents of the packages and the possible consequences.
I personally liked this book a lot. It has several good parts in this story and some bad parts too. In life you want to make good choices and not bad ones. The moral of the story is to always think before you act.
In this heart-pounding thriller, Carl Deuker combines global concerns and the threat of terrorism with the everyday worries of a teen who only wants to keep his life together until graduation. Supported by a smart, politically aware girl in his history class, Chance learns there's a lot more to patriotism than just waving a flag, and a lot more to courage than just following rules he knows may be wrong. This timely, complex story will make you think twice about the choices you make and what it means to be brave.

Runner book review.......2006-09-18

When Chance (the main character) is having problems with his dad paying the moorage fees and other expenses, Chance has to help him out. His dad is an alcoholic and a bum spending the rest of his spare change on beer, instead of helping his son out he sits out on his tiny boat drinking. Chance is having many problems in his life when his mom leaves them to go on and do something more with her life.
Everyone on his pier knows that his dad just got fired from his job so this man who works in the marina office that nobody has seen before asks Chance if he wants some money to help his dad out. So Chance doesn't think twice about his decsion. All he has to do is jog a mile to a point, look for a package, then jogs back. If there is a package at the point he returns it to the office marina guy. Every week he gets $200 dollars for running his normal jog route and returning packages that are theirat the point. Easy you think, Chance is desperate for money to keep his boat and his spot on the pier. He doesn't think about what consequences their are and what are in the packages.
I personaly liked this book a lot. It has good parts in this story and bad parts too. In life your want to make good choices and not the bad ones. Always think before you act.
In this heart-pounding thriller, Carl Deuker combines global concerns and the threat of terrorism with the everyday worries of a teen who only wants to keep his life together until graduation. Supported by a smart, politically aware girl in his history class, Chance learns there's a lot more to patriotism than just waving a flag, and a lot more to courage than just following rules he knows may be wrong. This timely, complex story will make you think twice about what it means to be brave.

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Happy Endings Tend to be Mythical

Runner in the Sun (Zia Book)
D'Arcy McNickle
Manufacturer: University of New Mexico Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0826309747

Book Description

First published in 1954 and long out of print, this novel of pre-Hispanic Indian life in the Southwest combines the authenticity of an anthropological report with the suspense of a mystery novel. The author, best known as an anthropologist during his lifetime, is now recognized as a major Native American novelist. Hitherto virtually unknown, Runner in the Sun is sure to take its place next to McNickle's The Surrounded, also available from UNM Press, as a classic of Native American fiction.

A novel of pre-Hispanic Indian life in the Southwest.

Customer Reviews:

Happy Endings Tend to be Mythical.......2000-07-09

A society under stress must change or be destroyed. A pre-columbian Native American village in the Southwest has endured many years of drought and has reached its breaking point. Will the external forces of nature or the internal strife of the people be the hammer that shatters the village? This question is explored through the eyes of a boy, named Salt in the language of his people. Salt survives the machinations of a powerful member of his tribe, then begins a quest to find salvation for his people. Ostensibly a novel for young adults, Runner in the Sun presents a complex metaphor to explore the forces of societal change within a familiar hero-quest plot. The story seems simple but has rich soil in which anthropological and linguistic fruit may grow. Even the boy's name, Salt, carries metaphorical depth. As the village's water evaporates in drought, what is left is the people's true essence--the minerals the water carried. D'Arcy McNickle's lifelong focus on the shape of Indian society and its relationship to its surrounding world are expressed in the mythic context of Runner in the Sun (which is also a plain good read, too).

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I knew she could
a beautiful gift
Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story
Absolutely Inspirational
Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story

Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story
Jami Goldman , and Andrea Cagan
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743424204

Book Description

Meet tall, beautiful Jami Goldman: world-class athlete, Adidas spokes-person, motivational speaker -- and double amputee. More than a decade ago, a wrong turn on a back road during a blizzard resulted in a terrifying fight for her life. Now for the first time, Jami recounts her gripping story of being trapped in the snow for eleven endless days, the grievous loss of her legs, and the fortitude it has taken to not only walk again but run like the wind -- all the way to freedom.

On December 23, 1987, nineteen-year-old Jami Goldman and her friend Lisa Barzano headed home from a ski trip in Purgatory, Colorado, never imagining they would end up in a freezing hell on a back road that the state of Arizona had closed without checking for travelers in distress. The girls' car battery died during that first long night, stranding them in below-zero temperatures. With only a cinnamon roll and a six-pack of frozen Diet Pepsi, the next ten days became an exercise in survival, testing their faith and courage even after they were rescued -- when Jami's legs and feet were deemed beyond saving.

Wise, forthright, and astonishing, Up and Running follows Jami's global journey from loss to recovery. Her story, which often reads like a compelling mystery, features her supportive family and friends, a devastating court case, her passionate relationship with the man she married, and finally, her triumph over inconceivably fearful obstacles. In the end, Up and Running shows us all how to use adversity as a stepping-stone -- leading us to heights we previously considered out of reach and beyond our wildest dreams.

Customer Reviews:

I knew she could.......2003-10-20

THis is a wonderful book. I knew Jami back in high school. We went to peer counseling camp together. She was just as she says, not very active. I am sure that today she is the same great spririted person I knew back when. She has survived and overcome.I read the book after seeing her on To Tell the Truth. I am proud to say that I know her. I truly recommend this book. It is quite a story of determination.

a beautiful gift.......2001-12-13

I was so shocked to know how she got both legs amputated. And I was so shocked to know that could happen to anybody. But her extraordinary strength of will to live gave me great courage to confront with my losses or unfortunates. While sensitively expressing a feminine part of her, she was also very competitive and eager to find her new life. Her optimism reminded me how profound our lives and possibilities are. This book will be a beautiful gift to share with all my precious friends. Thank you, Jami and Andrea.

Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story.......2001-12-13

Incredible personal narrative about what it's like to be average turned to handicapped turned to awesome source of power! I picked this book up in the library, reading back cover and was intrigued before looking at the picture on front cover and wondering, how? My brother is an amputee and I've witnessed first hand the strange way that people treat him, as an outsider from normal existance. Jami describes herself and the way others perceive her very clearly. This book is impossible to put down as you read about the terror of being stuck in a vehicle for 11 days and wondering why you haven't died yet. It is equally as difficult to put down as you read about Jami's determination to return to life as it was before the accident. This book is passionate, informed, relevant to today, romantic, inspirational, realistic, descriptive, adventurous, and well thought out. However, as a 7 months pregnant about to be first time mother, I do not recommend this book for readers under 18 years old.

Absolutely Inspirational.......2001-12-07

As a single leg amputee I found it very easy to relate with a lot of the different trials and tribulations that Jami discussed in her inspirational story.I found on somedays not being able to put the book down just to see how she made it to the next step of her incredible journeys of adapting to her whole new world.It's also nice to know that no matter of ones differences from others, you are never alone.

Up and Running: The Jami Goldman Story.......2001-08-27

This is the most amazing and inspirational story I have ever read.I read the book cover to cover. I couldn't put it down. I learned so much about living life to the fullest it made me excited about living again. I want to thank Jami for sharing her amazing journey with the world. I hope everyone gets the chance to read this wonderful book!

Average customer rating:

Unrealistic Main Character
Voigt's best? Perhaps, but arguably.
not one of her best
boy o boy is right
Among the best books I've read

The Runner
Cynthia Voigt
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590483803

Book Description

It was the 1960s, the time of the Vietnam War. "Bullet" Tillerman, the school track star, had to decide if he would go to fight or stay on the family farm. Bullet's father, who had already driven Bullet's older brother and sister out of the house, made impossible demands on him. And his mother seemed to have lost the will to resist the old man. Meanwhile, at school, a black student joined the track team, forcing Bullet to question his own prejudices. But nothing would keep him from running. Nothing.

Customer Reviews:

Unrealistic Main Character.......2007-06-07

Bullet is a high school student, and the last of the Tillerman children left at home with his parents on the farm. His older brother Johnny escaped to college, even though his father forbade him to go. Then Liza, his sister, ran off to get married and never came back. Bullet understands why the two of them left. Their father is intolerable, with his rules and his rigid way of living. He expects everyone to do exactly as he says, and he is constantly trying to set limits on them. Now Bullet is the only one left, and he doesn't like others trying to make rules for him.

Just as awful is Bullet's mother, who seems to have been completely broken by living with Bullet's father. She almost never speaks, and very rarely smiles. She seems resigned to life, and Bullet is sad that he might have helped her to become that way.

The only thing that makes Bullet feel completely fulfilled is running. He is a cross-country star, although he has never cared about winning. He just likes to run, whether he is in a race or not. He tries his best to live in a little cocoon, paying no attention to anything happening around him and trying not to get close to anyone.

However, Bullet is living in a time when it is impossible to stay in a cocoon. The Vietnam War is happening, and all of Bullet's classmates are worried about the draft. His school is trying to be integrated, but the white students and black students are doing their best to stay separated. Then Bullet's coach asks him to run with Tamer, a new black cross-country runner who might be able to benefit from Bullet's expertise. Suddenly Bullet is faced with his own prejudice, and he needs to figure out how he really sees the world.

I liked Bullet's strength, and his talent for running. I liked the descriptions of how he felt and what he thought when he was running. I really liked Patrice--he was a good father figure for Bullet and I liked the way he could talk to Bullet and get through to him like no one else could.

Bullet was too unnatural for a high school student--I don't believe anyone could be that completely focused on being true to himself, and that unemotional about everything.

Voigt's best? Perhaps, but arguably........2007-03-13

When asked which of her books she would write if she had the choice to only have written one, Cynthia Voigt replied, "The Runner." Would that have been a good choice? Hmmm.

The book is a little underrated here, I think, and I believe that this is because it is aimed at a young audience - oftentimes, we youths are not quite capable of catching and subsequently comprehending the more complex, subtle messages that Voigt sends in her books; this one in particular. For example, quite a few reviewers here seem to misinterpret the protagonist, Bullet. Yes, he is a rebellious, angry loner; yes, he holds racist sentiments throughout much of the book. However, there is much more to Bullet than that plain and simple "angry, unsociable guy" thing. Part of his struggle in the book is learning to overcome his racism upon realizing that one of his dearest friends is, in fact, part black and not simply "tanned" as he used to assume. The changes that occur in Bullet's character are subtle throughout the course of his story are subtle, but they're certainly there. The shift in his perspective of the people around him is both rewarding and moving, as he digs up truths about himself and about those close to him - some of them for the better, some of them for the worse, but all things that we outselves might come to note about the people surrounding us as we go through our lives - not evil at all for the most part, but terribly mistaken and blind about many things.

Bullet has a negative view on people in general, yes, but Voigt does well in not even trying to make him likable at the start of the book: he is arrogant, cocky, rude, and something of a know-it-all. Rather than trying to paint these as strengths, we see quite clearly that Bullet is, in fact, a flawed and very human young man, despite the pedestal of grudging admiration and fear others place him upon.

Anyway, the book isn't solely about Bullet and his people problems. It deals with social issues as well, such as the aforementioned racism (and with a grittily unique perspective that sets "The Runner" apart from other books dealing with this issue), the Vietnam War, and how teenagers during that time period dealt with such issues - some strongly, but often in a more ambiguous manner typical of how everyday people address such issues. It depicts very normal people as they go about making choices in their lives - often, however, with chilling effect that few others in the book are able to note.

I suppose I can't articulate exactly what I mean very well. This is one of those books where you either "get it", or you don't and possibly never will. This is definitely not a book for everyone, and due to Bullet's odd way of thinking, it isn't an easy read. However, it can be highly rewarding for those of you who enjoyed such works of Voigt's as "A Solitary Blue" and "Seventeen Against the Dealer", as well as "Come A Stranger".

The one negative thing I do have to say about this book is that on a few small occasions, Voigt's writing gives the impression of an author who is just a little too "in love with" her own character. Generally she does an excellent job of making Bullet seem very human though most others place him up on the aforementioned pedestal, but every now and then, the writing gets just a tad...pompous? Not sure if that's the right word, but it's the closest I can get to what I mean. Other books of hers, such as "Homecoming", and "A Solitary Blue" don't notably suffer from this bit. Hence, I'm a little hesitant over agreeing with Voigt that this is indeed the one work she ought to have written if she could only have written one.

Regardless, "The Runner" is a profoundly thoughtful piece of writing, and if you're looking for a rather quiet read that will have you thinking long after you've put it down, this is a great book whose merits far outweigh its vices.

not one of her best.......2005-10-09

I enjoyed other books in the Tillerman cycle, but this book was not one of Voigt's best. The main character Bullet, a high school track star and an obstinate loner, is a racist. This is all right, as the book is set in the sixties. However, the protagonist does not noticeably change by the end of the book. He has had a new wrinkle put in his ideas about race, but he is pretty much the same personality that began the book. Whether this bothers you or not depends on your idea of an effective story and intriguing protagonist.

boy o boy is right.......2005-04-27

I had to read this for school. I asked my teacher to read it cause i though it was really boring. She couldnt even make it through. the only fun part was one of my parteners during the group discussions making fun of tamer (hes not racist). The book is bad, I dont recommend it.

Among the best books I've read.......2004-09-20

This book is extremely powerful. Cynthia Voigt interlaced and weaves many ideas about everything - racism, friendship, who you are, who you can be, being different, judging people, pushing your limits, values, ...
It tells us the story about a young man named Samuel, who calls himself Bullet. He's strong willed, stubborn, and incredibly strong in his character. He lives by his own rules, which include not answering to his domineering father, his mother, or mixing with the "coloreds" at his school. He won't let no one run him - and he's willing to break all rules but his own.
This is the kind of book that stays with you, it's got some very powerful messages. I couldn't sleep at night, because I kept thinking about questions this book raised in me. When a book does that to you, in my opinion, it means that it's a very good book.
One of my favorite books. A must, must, must read.

Runners, Sliders, Bouncers, and Climbers: A Pop-Up Look at Animals in Motion

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Pop up treat

Runners, Sliders, Bouncers, and Climbers: A Pop-Up Look at Animals in Motion

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1562822195

Customer Reviews:

Pop up treat.......2000-05-01

Who can resist pop-ups? No kids I know! The content is suitable for upper primary, but even the youngest child can learn something from the judicious use of this book with an adult explaining some of the movement features.

Customer Reviews:

"Complete and Utter Failure" my behind!.......2002-11-09

This was a funny, interesting, facinating book. Filled with an amusing mix of facts and story, I have to say it's easily one of my favorite books of all time. If you're going on an extended train, bus or plane ride then this is the book for you. Neil Steinberg is a genius!

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An alcoholic hit bottom and remembering the past
Comes in first for me

The Runner-Up
John L. Sheppard
Manufacturer: iUniverse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595280110

Book Description

By the author of Small Town Punk

In John L. Sheppard's darkly humorous The Runner-Up, alcoholic ex-sailor Ray reviews his lonely childhood trying to discover why he ended up on his father's couch sipping gin. Was it his mother abandoning the family when he was only nine? Was it his father's insistence on not being a father to him? Was it the lack of siblings? Or was it that he was always coming in second?

Praise for Small Town Punk:

Small Town Punk is brutal, honest, funny, and acerbic. It's also ... pretty dead-on accurate about what life in Central Florida for disaffected, low-to-middle class outcast teens was like. --Julio Diaz, Ink19.com

Customer Reviews:

An alcoholic hit bottom and remembering the past.......2003-08-28

This book is a new concept compared to Sheppard's usual fiction, in that it's a short book, almost like a long zine that you can buy for cheap and read in one pass. I read this during the New York blackout, and it hit the spot because it immersed me in another world, of a Navy dropout at the end of his rope, drinking mouthwash for alcohol and trying to think back as to what went wrong. It's like a good short story, but long enough that you get some detail and depth. I also like how he tied it into his book Small Town Punk, but also described another side of the Sarasota world. This is great stuff and well worth the sub-$$ price.

Comes in first for me.......2003-07-20

In the vein of "Small Town Punk," our hero in the "Runner Up" is another anti-hero. Drifting in and out of life, career and life beyond the military, the main character is similar to Buzz in "Punk," but ultimately more uplifting. This guy has a chance. Lots of great humor and hope in this book. A must read.

Chilton's Repair and Tune-Up Guide for Satellite Road Runner, 1968-1973

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Chilton's Repair and Tune-Up Guide for Satellite Road Runner, 1968-1973
Chilton Book Company
Manufacturer: W G Nichols Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801958210

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