Shadow Baby (Today Show Book Club #14)

Average customer rating:

Disappointing

move over Holden Caulfield!

An Odd But Moving Story

Shadow

Wonderfully entertaining! I loved it.

Shadow Baby (Today Show Book Club #14)
Alison McGhee
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312423772
Release Date: 2003-08-14

Book Description

Eleven-year-old Clara is struggling to find the truth about her missing father and grandfather and her dead twin sister, but her mother refuses to talk. When Clara begins interviewing Georg Kominsky--her elderly neighbor--she finds that he is equally reticent about his own concealed history. Precocious and imaginative, Clara invents versions of Mr. Kominsky's past, just as she invents lives for the people missing from her own shadowy history. Her journey of discovery is at the heart of this beautiful story about unlikely friendship and communion, about discovering what matters most in life, and about the search to find the missing pieces of ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-10-02

I am stubborn, and read on, always hoping a book will get better. Often, they do. This one just plodded on.

I like quirky books, quirky characters...I did not like this book.
The characters, especially the main character, was just annoying.

This was the first and most likely last time I will purchase a Today show book club book. I will take is as a warning to keep away!

move over Holden Caulfield!.......2007-09-05

Written in the voice of 11 year old Clara winter (with a small "w"), this is the story of one girl's struggle to uncover the secrets of her family. Who is her father? Where is her grandfather? Did she really have a sister? If so, what happened to her? Clara's mother refuses to discuss anything that really matters to Clara, so the young girl is forced to look elsewhere, and in so doing befriends an old man who has some secrets of his own. No spoilers here. McGhee's a master story-teller, and the secrets of Clara's life unfold bit by bit. This story's got heart, texture, life. I absolutely loved it.

Alison McGhee's one author to watch.

An Odd But Moving Story.......2007-07-27

This is the story of 11 year old Clara Winter (who prefers to be called Clara winter, with a small w). Clara's mother Tamar refuses to tell Clara about her family history despite her relentless questioning. Clara wants to know about her father and her twin sister. Because her mother will not talk to her about these things she imagines the details.

Clara meets an elderly neighbor, Mr. Georg Kominsky and begins interviewing him for a school project. He to is reluctant to discuss his past and Clara envisions a past of her own making for him as well.

Clara is a clever and imaginative young girl who loves words and language and reading. She establishes a deep friendship with Mr. Kominsky. She is an odd child as her mother states repeatedly and given that she is our narrator perhaps that is why I found this to be an odd book.

I thought the events that occurred and the past that is eventually revealed were all very moving. But overall I felt like there was too much missing from this story to leave me with a feeling of satisfaction after having read it.

Shadow.......2007-07-17

For such a short book, it took me a long time to get through it. Although beautifully written, it's a dull story. However, it's basically two stories written in one; and if you can get past the dull part, you'll love Clara's story.

Wonderfully entertaining! I loved it........2007-06-28

I loved this book. It was wonderfully written and wholly entertaining. I didn't mind that it was narrated by the precocious twelve year old Clara nor that she seemed too adult-like. Her words made me see the story from the perspective of both herself and her mother, like there was really a narrator and a half. There were some sad parts of this story that were somewhat unexpected but which served to keep your interest through the end of the book. McGhee developed very touching insights into the world of each of the characters that made them feel real. She ended this book with a subtle wrap up of all of the plots that made you feel satisfied with its ending. Great book!

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A Cute Thought Provoking Story - a review of "Moonbear's Shadow"

Moonbear's Shadow

Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689835191

Customer Reviews:

A Cute Thought Provoking Story - a review of "Moonbear's Shadow".......2006-08-24

This is a very nice book in which Moonbear explores how light and objects make shadows. [Thus story and science combined - wahoo!]

In this book, Moonbear is going fishing and finds himself vexed and perplexed by his shadow. At first it just gets in the way by scaring the fish; but at the end of the day his shadow ends up 'catching a fish' (shadow fish) just like he does.

In between, Moonbear tries various experiments and learns a great deal about light and shadows. You can't for example nail a shadow to the ground, nor bury it, nor can you get away from them by climbing a large rock if the sun is behind you. You can go inside your house, but chances are that when you come out again, that you will find your shadow, or vice-versa.

There is a nice sequence of pictures that depicts how the movement of the sun makes the shadows of stationary objects move.

Four Stars. Good story. Good read-aloud which is no doubt why Frank Asch has been on the my daughters entering -kindergarten and -first grade reading lists. With older children you can talk about shadows and the nature of visual optics (light).

Amazon has this book listed as good for babies to preschoolers; but I think older children would enjoy it too. [My daughter and son are 6 and 4 years of age respectively; and they enjoyed it.]

Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows

Average customer rating:

A Life of Exceptional Experiences Dosed w/ Humility
Great!!!
Interesting life. To God be the glory.
An Eye-Opening Pleasure of a Read
How Refreshing

Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows
Ravi Zacharias
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0310262631

Book Description

Zacharias invites readers to come follow him on this journey through his life and into the lives of others, and see how he has become more convinced with each year that goes by that Jesus Christ is the One who came to give us life to the fullest and to point us to the freedom and beauty of truth, for everyone, easterner or westerner, all over the world.

Customer Reviews:

A Life of Exceptional Experiences Dosed w/ Humility.......2007-09-20

When this book first came out, I wasn't as interested as I was reading RZ's other more apologetic books. This was more of a biography, very anecdotal, but the more I read it, I saw how so many of what he's seen and experienced were just microcosms of so many worldviews. He himself was a huge cynic, but after his regenerative experience at the hospital, he was led to really explore who God was and His message through Jesus, as well as test the seemingly competitive other world views. And he quotes it accurately, saying the more he learned about other world views, the more beautiful Jesus became to him.

Sometimes his biography was comparable to Forrest Gump, with fortunate exceptional destiny, with the exception that Ravi had immense intellectual potential. But he has really humbly been appointedly woven into the lives of many other prominent theological giants, having also crossed paths with world leaders. It's just amazing to realize all he's been through, but only because of the grace of God...continually guiding His path, and using him, from great revivals to personal intimate testimonies.

And amidst all the glorious stories are his heartfelt intimate thoughts of his family and his closest friends, some who died of age, and some who died spreading the gospel. I'm not ashamed to say how much this book has moved me...it is probably one of the most personal books for me...

this book is definitely rich w/ great lessons, great experience, and great proof that God is really there in the shadows, slowly revealing and affirming His will in our lives at the duly appointed time.

it IS an exceptional life, a great book i sadly put down, wishing there was more to read.

Great!!!.......2007-07-05

Ravi Zacharias truly is a man sent by God to bridge the gaps between East and West. As I read his fantastic story, I was amazed at how much of his story encouraged me in my own Christian walk. He went from being a teen who didn't like to read to being one of the most read apologist in the world.

As I continued to read his story, I was amazed at how much he does and how much of his family life was sacrificed by preaching God's word. The Lord gave him an understanding wife and beautiful children who understand his calling.

When he mentioned how over the years, he had lost his sense of humor because of the serious of apologetics, I felt sad for him. Preaching the Gospel is serious business and it is just that important but I believe God has blessed him richly.

The personal accounts of his friends who have paid for their beliefs with their lives were so inspiring and made me extremely reflective on my own Christian walk? Would I be willing to face all kinds of danger for Christ? I hope I never have to find out.

The book especially gives the reader a view of Eastern mentality and life. It was so vibrant and full of some many images and sounds. For the Western Christian, it is very important to understand the Easter mindset if we are to evangelize to our Eastern brothers.

I wish I could just shake Mr. Zacharias hand and just sit in his presence for an hour. I thank God for him and hope that he continues the good work.

Interesting life. To God be the glory........2007-06-19

Oh! That more Indians would come to salvation and evanglize their country!
This book should have been a biography instead of an auto-biography because you can almost sense the reluctance for Ravi to reveal the full extent of the way God has used him. On a more negative note, if Indian Christians keep moving away from India, who is going to evanglize the country?

An Eye-Opening Pleasure of a Read.......2007-05-02

This enormously vivid and readable book will capture your interest within the first few pages and keep it until the last. Mr. Zacharias has lived life fully, from his humble beginnings on a busy Indian street in his native land to the most prestigious professional and academic arenas all over the world--and met Christ on the way. In fact, that life-changing meeting is the core of what made him successful and motivated, and does so to this day. His is a wonderful story, especially the insights and anecdotes he gives us about India and its people, and of course how God came from "the shadows" to forever change his life. Ever think that God doesn't care about you? That he's not involved in your life? Read this book and listen closely--he may be speaking to you right here!

How Refreshing.......2007-03-08

Zacharias' book will either be life-changing or life-affirming for the reader lucky enough to stumble across this amazing account of a life that saw so much pain and joy. To go along on his journey, watching him go from his desperate youth and into his successful and meaningful adult life is incredible. As someone who has been immersed in a Christian lifestyle her entire life, I find it remarkable that someone can come from such beginnings and end up the man that Ravi Zacharias has become. It really makes me think about how much of the Western experience I take for granted. Ravi is not only passionate about his faith, but he provides an intellectual basis for it as well, something that is often missing in evangelism today. The blend of Eastern and Western cultures presented in this book are extremely significant and helpful. This has caused me to take a new approach to different cultures and unbelievers. He is a living example of walking in someone else's shoes. I could say countless things to praise his life's work, but it seems to me that Zacharias would want any glory to be given to God. After reading this, that is how I want the things I do to be remembered...for the glory of God. I cannot wait to read more from this talented evangelist!

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ends up being a very good book
The Summer of the Swans
The shadow children
Never Forget
One boy searches for the answer about the children.

The Shadow Children
Steven Schnur
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0688132812

Book Description

"Maybe for us it's over. But not for the children. For them it will never be over."

One summer after the Second World War, Etienne visits his beloved grand-father near the French town of Mont Brulant. A two-month vacation stretches before Etienne -- with hay to be turned, pears to be harvested, and old books to help repair. Best of all are the fields and woods around Mont Brulant, waiting to be explored on the back of Grand-père's horse.

But this year Mont Brulant isn't the same as Etienne remembers it. Why don't any young people live in the town now? he wonders. And why doesn't anyone else notice the refugee children begging along the road?

Then one day Etienne discovers children living in the woods -- children named Isaac and Sarah, and many others. Grand-père says he's imagining things. But why is Grand-père so worried about the markings that suddenly appear on Etienne's forearm?

As Etienne unravels the truth of what happened to the children of Mont Brulant, he and Grand-père must together confront an unspeakable tragedy. Steven Schnur's remarable tale of guilt and rememberance will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

Customer Reviews:

ends up being a very good book.......2006-02-16

I selected this book based on the artwork inside. The charcoal drawings are atmospheric and moody. The proportion of the adults give them a doll like quality. The drawings are mostly left unfinished to add mystery to them.

The book starts out slow, and somewhat choppy to read. The plot and characters are deliberately vague, and I struggled a little with the French names. It gets better as the book goes on and reveals its mysteries.

At one point I began to worry that it would turn into a typical ghost story. But the ghosts in this story are metaphors for real regret and wanting to change decisions made in the past.

There are moments in the book that may be disturbing for young readers. Books dealing with the holocaust always are. I would suggest this book for secondary students reading about the holocaust.

The Summer of the Swans.......2006-02-14

The book, The Summer of the Swans, written by Betsy Byars is a very interesting book to experience.It instantly grabbed my attention, from beginning to end. I love this book, and if you read it, I'm sure you'll love this book too.

The Summer of the Swans takes place in West Virginia. This book is mostly about a boy named Charlie and his sister Sara. Charlie Godfrey is a ten year old boy that is mentally challenged. Sara Godfrey, on the other hand, is about thirteen years old, and she is a teenage drama queen. She is going through a time of life that she thinks she's the ugliest person in the world because she compares herself with her sister Wanda Godfrey. Wanda is described as a beautiful nineteen year old with a boyfriend named Frank. One day Charlie was going to sleep and he heard a sound outside. He went to the window and saw something white and he thought it was a swan. So he got up and went outside and saw the white figure moving away. Charlie decided to go down to the pond and see the swans. He walked down the side of the road and saw that the field he was passing looked like the one he had crossed with Sara earlier in the day to get to the pond. Charlie started walking in the field. Pretty soon he got to the woods. He started walking into the woods, but there was no clearing where he thought the pond was. Read this book to find more about Charlie and Sara's adventure.

The lesson of this book is, don't judge a book by its cover. In the story Sara judges a boy named Joe Melby because she thinks he stole Charlie's watch. But really he gave it back to Charlie. Sara comes to find out that Joe Melby is really a caring guy because he asked if he could help find Charlie. Sara said that she didn't need his help, but Joe Melby helped her find him anyway. This is why I think this book is a great book to read. Read this book to find out more about Sara's journey to find Charlie.

The shadow children.......2004-03-11

The shadow children is a good book to read Etienneýs grandma dies Etienne goes to his grandpas farm to help harvest the pears and to ship them in. Etienne finds items from years ago and he starts to see ghosts one is name Isaac he helps feed the children and they tell him what happened to them years ago but if you want to find out more you are going have to read this book to see.
My opinion is that I think the thing that happened years ago should present that it tells you what happened through Isaacsýs eyes and how he helped the children to get food and try to get toys for them to play with. But the thing that I liked about the story is that Etienne finds out what happened and how it all flows together

Never Forget.......2000-05-31

Etienne has been journeying up from the busy life in the city of France to the deep country on the base of Mont Brulant to spend the summers with his Grand-pere for as long as he can remember. He loves to spend time on the farm not only enjoying nature, but taking care of the sheep and chickens and harvesting the crops and pears. However, this time is different; this is the first time he is going alone, without his family. Etienne and his Grand-pere are enjoying their stay together until Etienne begins seeing starving children dressed in rags begging him for food. He seems to be the only one seeing them. Whenever Etienne mentions it to his Grand-pere, he becomes angry and tries to change the subject. There is something that his Grand-pere isn't telling him; he needs to find out. One day, Etienne takes a ride to the foot of Mont Brulant, and something very peculiar happens. As he ventures into a clearing of trees he sees a road that seems to lead to nowhere and various items belonging to children; a bracelet, a pen, a pocketknife. Etienne keeps on hearing and seeing the children that only seem to appear in the shadows. Are they real? Are they ghosts? Etienne knows that there is something wrong with the little town! What is it? Finally, Etienne forces out of his Grand-pere the history of the little village in the county. World War II had not been an ordinary war; it had not only been fought between soldiers, innocent people had been killed and persucuted. The children had been sent away to this town in hope that they might be able to hide. For a while, the people of the village hid them, but too many came. When the Nazis threatened to kill those hiding Jews, the people gave them away. They watched them herd them into cattle cars killing those who protested. The people tried to forget, but the souls of the children killed in the concentration camps haunted them. We must never forget. Never forget. The Shadow Children, by Steven Schnur, had a very powerful plot. It is filled with scary scenes of ghosts of dead children haunting the forests, and the dark past of the townspeople's history with the Holocaust. Altough the protagonist was a non-Jew, he still felt the pain and anguish as any relative of a victim in the Haloucast. The Shadow Children showed me how important it is to remember the Holocaust. In the Torah it says, "Remember what Amalek did to you!" The Nazis, the people who killed the millions of innocent children, are Amalek. We must remember! This novella is based on a true story; until the protagonist visited his grandfathers house in Germany, he had no idea what had happened to the Jews in World War II. I think that all children should read this book and see how important it is to remember. Again, Never FORGET!

One boy searches for the answer about the children........1998-04-15

Etienne goes to a French city named Mont Brulant as he does every year for the summer. He vists Grand-pere's farm a little outside of Mont Brulant. He vists the woods and finds all kinds of clues to shw children were there. A long time ago children were taken away in those same woods on a special train once they entered the train they became slaves. One day Etienne sees the children hiding inn shadows. He thinks they are real but what he doesn't know is that the children are gosts. Read this book to find out more about The Shadow Children.

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Me and My Shadow
Arthur Dorros
Manufacturer: Scholastic Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Physics | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Baby-Sitters at Shadow Lake (Baby-Sitters Club Super Special, 8)

Average customer rating:

Wow!
Exciting and fun...who knows what will happen?
The baby-sitters are having more fun and excitement here!!!

Baby-Sitters at Shadow Lake (Baby-Sitters Club Super Special, 8)
Ann M. Martin
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0590449621

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2005-02-25

The Baby Sitters are at Shadow Lake. There are campfires, lakes, boys and foods, the baby sitters are going to see it all!.

Exciting and fun...who knows what will happen?.......1998-01-04

Baby-Sitters At Shadow Lake is a very exciting super special of the BSC. It is when they spend vacation at Mr. Brewer's cabin. They find the vacation impossible to resist. Exciting, fun, laughter, and enjoyment will fill your mind when you read this book.

The baby-sitters are having more fun and excitement here!!!.......1997-03-08

A simply great book, lifting up reader's minds. This storybook tells of Kristy and her gang, who were at Shadow Lake in Kristy's father's cabin. They never knew what they were gonna get!!! Dawn, totally "mystified" over the "monster" in the lake, finally finds the answer to her questions. The rest find romance, (especially Stacey who hooks up with Sam) laughter, joy (spending a night alone!), and of course - fun! Together with the younger kids (Karen, Andrew, etc.), they form a splendid story one must never miss

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The Biggest Shadow in the Zoo
Jack Kent
Manufacturer: E P Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

ASIN: 0819311154

Average customer rating:

An interesting take on Groundhog Day
Good for Older Children (4-5 years)

Gregory's Shadow
Don Freeman
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0670893285

Book Description

Gregory and Shadow are separated just before Groundhog Day. Can they find each other again-and will it be in time for their annual appearance?

Customer Reviews:

An interesting take on Groundhog Day.......2005-12-22

Skittish little Gregory Groundhog is used to having his Shadow follow him all the time, everywhere he goes. But on February 1st when Gregory ran back inside his house, he and his Shadow got separated. Each one searched for the other, and eventually they get together again, just in time for Groundhog Day. Gregory coaxed Shadow to hide closely behind him, unseen, so that winter would be soon over.

This story is an interesting approach to Groundhog Day. The chalk illustrations lend texture to the pages, and even shadows -- an important part of the story -- are well portrayed. See my Listmania list for other recommendations on this topic.

Good for Older Children (4-5 years).......2003-01-28

Gregory is a groundhog who loses his shadow. He and his shadow finally find each other and make a plan for Groundhog Day.

This was a little too wordy for my class. I also think this is too abstract for the Three Year Olds I teach. They need to see the shadow stay to learn reality; the fantasy of the shadow and groundhog being separated just didn't make sense to them. But they liked the illustrations and played "catch the shadow"; a game they invented after the story time.

Book Description

In a reassuring bedtime story by a beloved picture-book illustrator, little James learns how his dark room can be a fun and fanciful theater for shadow pictures.

Mommy and Daddy come running when eerie, flickering shapes give James a fright. Is there a MONSTER in his room? No, just shadows. James's parents can make shadow shapes, too-and soon a menagerie of friendly shadow animals dance across his bedroom wall, acting out a funny story.

Now James is not afraid anymore, but he can't resist a little shadow play himself before snuggling down to sleep. This endearing story about comforting childhood anxieties will ring true to any parent and provide inspiration for hours of family fun-at bedtime or anytime.

Customer Reviews:

Very cute and great book to help with shadows.......2005-01-21

If you have a little one that has trouble falling asleep because of shadows in the room. you really need this book. James, the little tiny boy in the story is frightened by the shadows and thinks they are monsters. So, his parents come in and make up a story using hand shadows to help James with his fears. It's very cute and even demonstrates how to make the shadow puppets. In the end, little James makes the puppets himself after his parents leave and says goodnight to all the animals and spiders in the story. It's very cute seeing him jump up and down on his bed, making shadow monsters. He winds up going to sleep very peacefully after figuring out how to make the shadows. It's been a very helpful book in our house and a very great idea for a children's book. Great find!

Shadow night.......2001-07-29

Neat concept, combining a story with shadow play (pictorial) "instructions." A young boy becomes frightened by monsters in his room--shadows from his bedroom curtains. His parents show him that it is only a shadow, then tell a shadow story. Chorao nicely integrates "shadow how-to's" into the story for those readers who may be inspired to tell there own shadow stories!

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