Book Description
From ABC White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, the story of a brutal forty-eight-hour firefight that conveys in harrowing detail the effects of war not just on the soldiers but also on the families waiting back at home.
In April 2004, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division were on a routine patrol in Sadr City, Iraq, when they came under surprise attack. Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, 8 Americans would be killed and more than 70 wounded. Back home, as news of the attack began filtering in, the families of these same men, neighbors in Fort Hood, Texas, feared the worst. In time, some of the women in their circle would receive "the call"-the notification that a husband or brother had been killed in action. So the families banded together in anticipation of the heartbreak that was certain to come.
The firefight in Sadr City marked the beginning of the Iraqi insurgency, and Martha Raddatz has written perhaps the most riveting account of hand-to-hand combat to emerge from the war in Iraq. This intimate portrait of the close-knit community of families Stateside-the unsung heroes of the military -distinguishes The Long Road Home from other stories of modern warfare, showing the horror, terror, bravery, and fortitude not just of the soldiers who were wounded and killed but also of the wives and children whose lives now are forever changed.
Customer Reviews:
Thanks .......2007-09-29
Thank you i got the book today and have read a little bit of it .. it got here before i thought it would so thank you
Long Road Home is a quick read........2007-09-24
Martha Raddatz does a good job of making you experience an episode in Iraq from the viewpoint of the soldiers. She lets them tell the story. Perhaps it would have been good to include more of her viewpoint or some corollary material but it is fine book as it is written and portrays an important story in this horrible war.
PHENOMENAL.......2007-09-20
I don't ever write reviews on here but this is one of the best books I've ever read. Written from many different points of views between Iraq and the United States, it pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading. I have told all of my family and friends (and a few random people in the bookstore) they must read this book. it truely is phenomenal and makes me cry and support the soldiers and their families so much.
'Long Road Home' - remarkable view of War on Terror .......2007-09-03
The 'Long Road Home' captures a side to the War on Terror that Americans, or anyone for that matter, rarely glimpse.
Author and journalist Martha Raddatz takes us into the hearts and minds of some of America's sons (and their families) on one of the toughest days in modern military history. We witness a 'from top to bottom' look at how Soldiers, from the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, respond in a series of deadly desperate circumstances - outmanned, outgunned and surrounded. The day - 4 April 2004, aptly became known as Black Sunday - in Iraq.
This is one of those rare insights, through the eyes of those who fought and died ...those who fought and lived ...and those who still fight each day with their demons. Martha Raddatz honored the Soldiers and families of the 1st Cavalry in this deeply moving record of what happened one day in April 2004.
Clearly, she takes the story telling to a higher plain. She's not one to embrace low-hanging fruit of political ax-grinding and blame-game antics. She keeps faith, in writing this book, with the valor of the Soldiers and families she introduces to us.
A harrowing war story, it is also filled with indelible marks of hope, conviction, compassion, determination and courage. Our family was deeply and forever affected by the events of this day of days. 'The Long Road Homes' signature is the telling of many Soldier's experiences - among them, my own son, Corporal Loren Haller.
Simply excellent.......2007-08-24
This is a wonderfully written and compelling book about a fierce battle in Sadr City, Iraq. One of the best war-time books I've ever read.
Book Description
Where would your dream take you if you had a whole year to just travel? But perhaps you're thinking, "if I only knew how to start planning my adventure!" This detailed "how-to" guide will get you moving from the dreaming to the doing in no time at all.
Included is step-by-step, real-life information on planning the trip you've always wanted to take -- along with generous doses of humor and advice on topics such as:
* How to pay for a year away from home * How to unravel all your current commitments - to family, work, and organizations * How to plan on the fly and enjoy every day * How to pack in 3 small drawers and 24" of closet space - for two! * How to handle the emergencies that crop up along the way * And the most asked question: How to enjoy your traveling companion on a 24/7 basis!
Once you've decided to "leave it all behind", Live Your Road Trip Dream takes you along on an action-packed, whirlwind tour of the authors' trip - just to help you visualize what months on the road might really be like, and to offer a glimpse into how decisions and discoveries are made along the way.
This is the ultimate road trip planning guide.
Customer Reviews:
Road Trip???.......2007-10-06
These two authors basically drive around the country and pour out verbal diahrea on boring facts about their trip that no one in their right mind should care about. They are actually proud of the fact that they only???? spent 80k in one year of travelling. They must have lived like anaimals! Also, Carol seems to use the exclamation point way too excessively in her writing! If you are not retired and are somewhat of a young age please avoid this book. I did give it one star because if you have a good sense of humour you might enjoy her little stories!
For me, more of a 3 1/2 star book but since halves are not an option, 4 stars........2007-10-03
The first chapters of this book provide excellent guidance for planning a one-year trip away from home. The authors guide you through the entire process of planning and preparation. Definitely four star information. The authors purchased a small RV, set up their budget, rented out their house and got ready to go. This book shares what worked for them and walks you through all the necessary steps that need to be accomplished prior to your departure including a planned/actual budget and a more frugal version. Both budgets seemed high to me, but if the trip were made today, both might be a real bargin.
The second portion of the book, a journal of their year on the road, seemed sketchy and a bit disjointed. There isn't a lot of information on any of the areas visited, so not as useful as it might of been for some actual travel planning. They spent so many nights at hotels that I'm not sure the motor home was a good investment, but the authors thought it was.
If you are considering traveling away from home for an extended period of time, you will find this book a helpful addition to your library along with one or two good travel guides. If, however, you are more interested in reading about traveling the USA in a small RV, Barbara Thacker's books, while older, are fun armchair travel reading along with Ron and Barb Hofmeister's books on full timing in a much larger RV.
Entertaining and loaded with great info.......2007-08-26
This is a very entertaining book loaded with great information about extended traveling. Be it just a few weeks or a year or more, the authors have dispensed great ideas on how to handle the everyday life you leave behind (for whatever period of time).
I finished the book in about a week, reading it for it's entertainment value. I will be retiring soon and my wife and I plan on taking extended "vacations" in our RV. I will read the book again (and again) so I can garner as much information as I can.
listen to the voices of first-hand experience.......2007-07-19
Phil and Carol White amply demonstrate that anyone can live "a road trip dream" as they thoughtfully share their proven insider tips for enjoyable RV travels. Interesting to discover, according to the authors, that a big mistake first-timers make is overplanning. Read this book and "just do it!"
I'd like to start with $80,000 a year too! .......2007-03-09
My family and I are preparing to spend a year full-timing in our 5th wheel camper and thought this book would be helpful in some regards to that. Unfortunately, there were no real bits of information for us to use in planning for our trip. Actually, there was not much at all that was helpful for our purposes.
Book Description
This clear, concise text provides a user-friendly introduction to the most current civil engineering and highway construction materials. It covers the essentials of highway construction technology without getting bogged down with complicated mathematics, excess theory, or difficult language. Topics covered in this book include soils, aggregates, pavement structure and base, asphalt pavements and materials, and Portland Cement Concrete, as well as Stone Matrix Asphalt, admixtures, and whitetopping. For civil engineers, those in highway construction, construction materials dealers, and soil mechanics.
Average customer rating:
- This book should be out of print
- good book for construction dirt crews
- Great for first timers.
- Good book, but not for my needs
- An excellent reference
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Excavation and Grading Handbook
Nick Capachi
Manufacturer: Craftsman Book Company
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Estimating Excavation
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Moving the Earth, 5th Edition
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ASIN: 0934041296 |
Customer Reviews:
This book should be out of print.......2006-04-03
The only book of any kind that I have ever returned. Appears to have been written in the 60's. Revision must have been just to update the copyright date. A complete waste of my time!
good book for construction dirt crews.......2006-03-21
This book will help answer questions you might have about
about survey stakes ane plan reading. I reccommended to every operator outthere.
Great for first timers........2006-03-11
A great book for those who are new to site work on construction sites. Some things are outdated, esp. pictures, but it is a must have. Look for a survey 101 book as well.
Good book, but not for my needs.......2004-09-14
Like one of the other reviewers I am a homeowner/handyman I was hoping to find a book on the proper way to grade, dig, etc...
This book is for the civil engineer, or project manager. It gives a good overall idea on the general concepts on how to do things related to grading/excavation. However, this book will not give you enough knowledge to do a project without additional experiences/references.
If you were a contractor who was getting ready to start a new job and needed to gain some general knowledge on a type of job you do not normally work, this book would be a good starting point.
If you are not a contractor, unless you are about to start a REALLY BIG job, with multiple pieces of large equipment, this book is of the wrong scope for you.
An excellent reference.......2000-08-07
This is a book written for apprentice operating engineers. As such, it teaches the basics of road survey, grading, compaction, pipe laying, stakeout, drainage. It goes into detail on how to read survey stakes, mark and read witness lath, calculate differences in height, read and use a hand level, stake slopes, layout a subdivison, find the bottom elevation of pipelines, proper compaction of road base, and just about anything else a road worker could think of. This is an easy to use paperback book with many drawings which help explain the text. I can't tell you how useful this book has been to me.For those readers that are involved with excavation, survey, inspection (me), contracting, this book IS MUST HAVE.
Book Description
USMLE Road Map: Pharmacology presents a concise and focused examination of the essential concepts in pharmacology. Through a streamlined and easy-to-follow hierarchical outline format, it guides students through the most important attributes of each drug class and reviews the mechanisms, actions, and side effects of each drug prototype. The outline is enhanced with an extensive and original illustration program that visually conveys the essential information and promotes retention of the material. Features such as clinical correlations and clinical problems are also included.
Customer Reviews:
Excelent one.......2007-06-29
I've read already Lippincott's Illustrated review of pharmacology and others great resources and i am convinced that USMLE Road Map Pharmacology seems the most high yeld and fast review. It just goes direct what is important to know. Simple and Efficient.
Indispensable for USMLE step 1!.......2006-10-22
OK, this book isn't the best choice for in-depth learning of pharmacology - and you definitely shouldn't expect this from the resource which is only 178 pages long - but this isn't the main purpose of this title - it was created to be used as a RE-VIEW and it serves this purpose extremely well.
For in-depth study you should get 'Katzung and Trevor's Review of Pharmacology' or 'Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Pharmacology'; these books are excellent, but, even though both claim to be 'reviews', who can reread their 600 pages again and again? at the same time, pharmacology tends to be forgotten in just a few weeks (even when it was learned very well in the past) and you have to refresh your memory again and again; and as your exam approaches you'll need more and more quick reviews because you'll not have enough time for the big resources; even though pharmacology is the best written subject in 'First Aid for the USMLE step 1', still it's too superficial and you should reserve that book for cramming just before the exam; so, you'll get a long gap in the middle between in-depth study and 'First Aid', which has to be filled; at this point of your preparation, you'll find that 'USMLE Road Map: Pharmacology' is very helpfull, well-written, well-illustrated and perfectly suited for quick and repetitive readings; it focuses on high yield facts, which will be heavily tested on USMLE step 1, without extraneous details, which may be important for wards or for the USMLE step 2 CK, but aren't necessary for step 1; for this reason 'Road Map' is much more useful for step 1 than 'Pharmacology for the Boards and Wards', which tries to reach everyone and, as a result, is less high yield for this exam; though this book is larger (256 pages) than 'Road Map', it contains more irrelevant information and less - relevant.
Customer Reviews:
coin laundries--Road to financial independence.......2003-10-26
This book is indispensible for anyone interested in owning or operating a coin laundry. In fact I highly recommend it to anyone interested in starting any small business.
Great information!!!.......2003-09-03
THis is a must read for anyone who is serious about owning a coin laundry business,full of helpful information
Excellent Book for a Beginner.......2003-05-15
I decided to buy this book after finding not much else in this business field. I am well impressed. This book has answered questions that nobody else will answer. More importantly, it's doing so from an unbiased opinion. Information, charts, evaluation methods, that are detailed in the book. Its like from an insider's perspective. This book is like a mentor with years of experience, showing you the ropes and holes to avoid. A must buy for anyone thinking about getting into this business. Especially a new comer to this industry.
A practical, comprehensive, highly recommended guide.......2002-09-09
Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Coin Laundries: Road To Financial Independence by Emerson G. Higdon is a practical, comprehensive, highly recommended guide to starting and operating self-service laundries that will turn a laudable profit. From machinery issues, to dealing with governmental regulations, to meticulously computing financial data and revenue balanced against expenses, Coin Laundries is an absolute "must" for anyone seriously considering a coin-operated laundry business, as well as being a useful and basic perusal for anyone with an interest in any other coin-operated form of commerce.
This is a great book for new laundromat owners or buyers........1997-05-17
If you are thinking about buying a laundromat, you need to read this book before you buy
Book Description
By car, mini-van, pickup and motorcycle, members of a family take beautiful, nostalgic country roads to a family reunion. Up, down and around the hills of West Virginia, they all head for a hoedown, hayride, and good food at Grandma and Grandpa's place in the country! Illustrator Christopher Canyon brilliantly adapts John Denver's famous song for children of all ages. It's all about country, it's all about music, and it's all about family. (The hardback edition comes with a CD of John Denver singing Take Me Home, Country Roads! This is the third title in Dawn Publications' John Denver & Kids Book Series.)
Customer Reviews:
beautifully illustrated.......2007-10-11
I am from West Virginia so Country Roads has always been dear to my heart, especially being a WVU grad where it is blasting all over town on football Saturdays! I bought this for my nephew and I'm sure he will love all of the illustrations as much as I do. Lots to look at on each page and I love how the illustrations are done as if it has been quilted.
Great for all ages..........2007-08-15
My son received this book as a gift for his first birthday. He loves it (and he has no clue who John Denver is)! We've read/sang it a hundred + times. He loves looking at the illustrations, as do I. My husband & I graduated from WVU, so this song is near & dear to our hearts. We hope to make a little Mountaineer out of our son too....this is a good start.
Another great John Denver/Christopher Canyon work!.......2007-06-26
A great song with amazing illustrations. All the pictures look like quilt pieces. This song is timeless and kids love it. I've got kindergarteners who can belt this out and they never get tired of reading/singing it over and over. Very well done. Can't wait for more John Denver songs to come out.
AWESOME!.......2007-05-25
John Denver's music paints a beautiful picture in your mind, but this book brings it to life even more! Book is very animated---almost seems like the pictures move as the vehicles go up and down the rolling hill. Great quilted-look art that covers almost every space in this book. LOTS of things going on (you could look at this book all day long and still find something new the next day) Well worth the money!!! Get is for all your John Denver fans :)
It took me home.......2006-11-03
I thought the book was adorable and will preserve John Denver's song for future generations. I have introduced his music to my young nieces and nephews. They know who he is now just by the sound of his music. Thanks for the latest addition to my library and the John Denver childrens collection.
Book Description
Thousands of U.S. soldiers have suffered grievous wounds in Iraq, but only one of them is a Doonesbury character. This special collection chronicles seven months of cutting-edge cartooning, during which B.D.-and readers of the strip-got an up-close schooling in a kind of personal transformation no one seeks.
Deprived not only of leg but also his ubiquitous trademark helmet, B.D. survives first-response Baghdad triage, evacuation to Landstuhl's surgeon-rich environment, and visits by innumerable morale-boosting celebs, both red and blue in hue. He's awed in turn by morphine, take-no-guff nurses, his fellow amps, and his family, including the daughter who hand-delivers succor, one aspirin at a time.
Transferred stateside to Walter Reed's Ward 57, B.D. is inspired by the wisdom of physiatrists, warmed by the dedicated ministrations of real-life fellow-amp heroes like Jim the Milkshake Man, and dazzled by high-tech prostheses that cost more than luxury cars. He's annoyed by his own bouts with self-pity, by the bedside awkwardness of friends more comfortable regarding his stump from e-mail distance, and by Zonk's unwavering commitment to supplementing his care with organic meds.
As their journey continues, B.D. and Boopsie are cared for by Fisher House, a home-next-door-to-the-hospital for families whose lives revolve around therapy. B.D. finds himself painfully engaged in building his future, one sadistically difficult physical therapy session at a time. "To Lash, Helga, and the Marquis!" toast the band of differently limbed brethren, raising their glasses to their PT masters as they prepare for reentry into the ambulatory world.
From rebuilding tissue to rebuilding social skills to rebuilding lives, B.D's inspiring, insightful, and darkly humorous story confirms that it can take a village, or at least a ward, to raise a soldier when he's gone down. "Thank you for getting blown up," offers one of B.D.'s visiting players. Replies the coach, "Just doing my job."
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful humorous touching Doonesbury.......2007-03-09
I have been a fan of Doonesbury since high school in the early 1970's, I read it
every day. One of the first books I bought was ``Call Me When You Find America.''
This string of cartoons had an unusual tone -- Trudeau gets a forward from John McCain who used to regard him with ``utter comtempt''-- a serious and dark one behind the humor. It was the first Doonesbury book I could say was moving.
know the sacrifice.......2007-01-18
People die and get hurt in war. That's something we all "know".
But for people who actually have to deal with this fact, the rest of us, our ignornace can be a hurdle.
Trudeau presents this issue with in a way that is accessable to all, and with a humor that may seem out of place; but as my Dad used to say, laughter heals more ills than all the pills.
Moving and Real.......2006-11-03
I really loved this book. It was recommended to me by my graduate thesis professor who is a leading edge researcher in prosthetics. I am also the mom of a disabled son AND I've worked with amputees during my graduate school years. This book speaks to the realities, doubts, and fears of being a disabled person, yet it's hopeful, too. Trudeau really captures the feelings and thoughts of both the amputee and family members. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is wrestling with amputation and/or disability issues and who wants a thoughtful (and sometimes lighthearted--there IS light in the darkness!) view on it. This book is realistic and human. Don't miss it.
"I notice a lot of things now...".......2006-09-21
"Not your time,bro. Not today." With these words,B.D.'s life changes direction forever. In this book, Trudeau has brought home the high price paid by those who go to war, become injured,and must start their lives over again. Trudeau shows how important family , friends and other support are in travelling down that often difficult road to recovery. Who is to blame, is not the issue to these warriors returning to pick up their lives. He shows what an important function that Fisher House provides to both the veteran and the family.
This is probably the Trudeau book that can be read in the shortest time.It took me only 40 minutes and has only 93 pages. That is not important,though;as Trudeau gets the message through and is crystal clear.
This may be one of Trudeau's most important books;particularly since the proceeds from the book will go to benefit Fisher House.
A tip of the hat to Trudeau;and everyone who has been a Doonesbury fan should get behind Gary,buy the book;and help support Fisher House.
Surprisingly effective and even-handed.......2006-03-19
I have been a longtime fan of Doonesbury since it was first syndicated and have literally all of Trudeau's books (including "Trout Fishing in the Reflecting Pool" in the first edition), but I've not been reading it recently. Thus, I was unaware of the plot of this book when I got it. It hit me like a ton of bricks. He really does a great job of telling a complete story here, with humor and pathos and a remarkable amount of sensitivity, while at the same time acknowledging that dealing with a loved one with an amputation, let alone an amputation caused during a war over which great debate rages, can cause legitimate discomfort. A simply remarkable and accessible book. And no, I had no idea what a physiatrist was either.
Book Description
Paris has just moved in with the Lincoln family, and isn't thrilled to be in yet another foster home. She has a tough time trusting people, and she misses her brother, who's been sent to a boys' home. Over time, the Lincolns grow on Paris. But no matter how hard she tries to fit in, she can't ignore the feeling that she never will, especially in a town that's mostly white while she is half black. It isn't long before Paris has a big decision to make about where she truly belongs.
Nikki Grimes has created a portrait of a young girl who, in the midst of being shuffled back and forth between homes and realizing things about other people and the world around her, gradually embarks on the road to discovering herself.
Customer Reviews:
Okay.......2007-08-20
I found this one predictable and somewhat shallow. Also, a bit unrealistic, in the space of a couple of months, the alcoholic mother turns her life around, meets a man, marries and sets up a stable home with plenty of room for the two children she abandoned. The issues of racial prejudice and religion are handled completely without subtleness.
It was good, but it could have been better.......2007-03-26
I was slightly disappointed. After reading the great reviews I picked up this book. It got off to a very suspenseful start and then kind of stagnated. I felt like the author was going somewhere with it but then didn't. Paris' background is interesting. She is described as African-American, but with blonde hair; that in and of itself is unusual. The author, however, only touches on it briefly in her general description of Paris. I was left wondering if this young girl felt ostracized by both races and if she felt any kind of identity crisis. I also thought it a bit odd that she rarely thought about her Caucasian father who walked out on her family. I was also left wondering about her older half-brother and protector, Malcolm and if he ever had any awkward feelings about his mixed race sister. Since he was older and would have had more memories of Paris' father I wondered how he felt and if he harbored more resentment for their mother than Paris.
I also got the impression that the author tried to omit any references that might date this story; however, I found it dated by the absence of technology. Unfortunately, the foster care system is just as flawed today as it was then. I'm considering giving this book to a student of mine who is dealing with some similar issues.
Overcoming the stigma of being a biracial girl in a white town........2007-02-04
Nikki Grimes' THE ROAD TO PARIS tells of Paris, who has been moved from one mean foster family to another, never fitting. She expects no betters from her latest family the Lincolns - but they are different - perhaps even different enough to help her overcome the stigma of being a biracial girl in a white town.
The Road to Paris.......2006-10-24
Eight-year-old Paris Richmond barely remembers the white father who gave her blond hair; he left when she was four. The story goes that he hated owning up to a child with dark skin. Paris' ten-year-old brother, Malcolm, hadn't fared much better. His dad left when Malcolm was just a baby. But being father-less didn't mean that they ever accepted their mom's latest husband as any kind of substitute, so when he walks out, Paris and Malcolm are actually glad. Their mom, on the other hand, slips into depression and turns to alcohol for comfort. Things get so bad that their mom often abandons them to spend hours at the bar. That's when Child Services steps in, and Paris and Malcolm are shipped out to a foster home.
But life is hardly pleasant at the Boone house, and Paris knows it will never be home. After getting locked in the closet for days on end, punished for crimes the Boone daughter did, and then beaten black and blue, Malcolm and Paris know they have to get out of there. They run to the only family they have left, their grandmother.
Unfortunately, their grandmother is hardly glad to see them. According to her, she's raised her kids and now she's done. She contacts Child Services and new foster homes are considered---but this time they separate Paris and Malcolm.
Malcolm is Paris' strength, hope, protection and only source of love, and it tears her to pieces when they send him to a boys' home. Paris ends up in the suburbs, with a family by the name of Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have two boys of their own, plus a teenage girl fostering with them. She enters the old but comfortable house with trepidation; she holds no hope for her present or her future. But within a few weeks, she knows she's not with people like her mom or the Boones'. She has her own small, but cozy bedroom, and no one beats her or locks her in the closet. The Lincolns never coddle her, yet they make her feel welcome, accepted and safe with their acts of kindness. And when she goes to their church for the first time, she discovers amazing joy in the music, and happily joins the choir. She even uncovers faith in God that helps her through the anger she feels for her mom.
Even though she constantly misses her brother, she begins to feel she can call this place a home. She even made a friend at school. But then she gets a phone call from her mom---and her mom wants her back.
Ms. Nikki Grimes is an award-winning author, and her talent shows in her newest story, THE ROAD TO PARIS. Her life-like characters speak from the heart, and her expressive and colorful descriptions are perfectly presented through eight-year-old eyes. The story line moves smoothly and engagingly. Ms. Grimes is sure to see more writing awards in her future.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of Finding My Light and The Black Pond
--- Courtesy of www.kidsreads.com
The long and winding road.......2006-10-09
Here's a fun way to determine whether or not a book will make for a good discussion in either a classroom or a bookclub. First, read the book. Two possible choices now lay before you. If you finish the title and find yourself 100% perfectly clear on why every character performed as they did, that is not a good book for discussion. If, however, you do as I did with "The Road To Paris" and after finishing the book suddenly find yourself thinking and rethinking the book's ending in a vain attempt to determine whether it was happy or sad, then THAT, my friend, THAT book has incredible promise. All the great classic books, from "The Giver" to "Charlotte's Web" have that quality. Now "The Road To Paris" has it too, and I would not hesitate to thwap it soundly on the head with the CLASSIC stick. This is a good book. A good book that manages to talk about a serious, even depressing subject without dragging the reader down into the realms of misery. No small feat, to say the least.
"Ask Paris if a phone call can be deadly. She'll tell you. She learned the truth of it last night." For years, Paris and her older brother Malcolm have only had one another to count on. Though they've been taken from foster home to foster home, Paris can still remember and be hurt by the memory of their alcoholic mother. So when Malcolm and Paris escape the latest abusive home to stay with their grandmother, she's unprepared for the horror of being separated from Malcolm after all these years. Paris has been sent to live with the Lincolns, a kind family who've dealt with foster kids before. It takes a great deal of love and understanding on their part to break through Paris's wary shell so as to convince her that she is finally safe. But when a phone call comes from her real mother telling her she can come live with her again, Paris must decide what "home" really is.
Reviewers seldom comment on the length of a children's book, unless they happen to be dealing with a 700+ page fantasy tome (or, as the book industry calls them, "the norm"). I, however, would like to point out that "The Road To Paris" stands at a handsome 153 pages. From this length, we may understand that Nikki Grimes does not stand for overwrought flowery speech. Her language is remarkably beautiful, as much in what she doesn't say as in what she does. When, for example, you read right at the beginning that, "In the world of Paris Richmond, normal was rare, and rich", those words weigh heavy on the page. Descriptions abound and they aren't there to merely fill up space but to give the narrative itself a three-dimensional quality. There is a moment where Paris sees for the first time in her life her neighborhood buried until a thick covering of white powdery snow. "Paris thought it was a shame to disturb all that perfection, but she planted her bots into the snow, one step after another, creating a trail of fat footsteps even the man in the moon could see..."
Ms. Grimes also has the remarkable ability to preach without sounding preachy, if that makes any sense at all. In this book, Paris finds God. Early into her foster care stay with the Lincolns, her new foster brother David tells her that he combats fear by keeping "God in my pocket." Later, as Paris grows emotionally strong, she holds fast to her belief that God is with her, even in the most unpleasant of circumstances. Some authors wouldn't be able to write any of this without making the book into some kind of didactic sermon. Instead, Grimes balances out the good with the bad, allowing the reader the chance to decide for themselves whether or not Paris's faith with help or hurt her in the future.
Until I read this book the only Nikki Grimes title I'd ever read was her Coretta Scott King Award-winning, "Bronx Masquerade". Honestly, I didn't like "Bronx Masquerade" very much. I thought the characters used too much contemporary slang that would grow outdated very quickly, thereby making an otherwise well-written book a relic before its time. "The Road To Paris", in contrast, could not be more different. First of all, it's difficult to say when exactly this book takes place. It could be in the past or it could be next week. It features a foster care system that performs in a believable fashion, sometimes making a situation better (for Paris) and sometimes making a situation worse (for Malcolm). The language doesn't have a drop of soon-to-be-outdated slang anywhere, and nobody goes about yammering into the latest cell phone or iProduct. I hate to drag out that overused word "timeless" to describe "The Road To Paris" but the book leaves me with very little choice in the matter. How else am I going to describe a story that feels this real and, I know, will continue to do so for years to come?
Name five children's chapter books written by and about African-Americans in the year 2006. Go on. Name `em. If you can't do it, and I know that you can't, then we have a problem. Nikki Grimes is an amazing writer but publishers would do very well to know that she can't do it alone and she needs some company. If "The Road To Paris" doesn't find itself included on every single Best Children's Books of the Year list for 2006 then you'll know something is terribly awry. One of the smartest titles to come out this year, to say nothing of its bravery. I won't tell you the ending of this book, for obvious reasons, but a co-worker of mine recently commented that adults and children will have very different reactions to Paris's final decision. Consider this a great title for discussion and contemplation. A book worth remembering for a long time to come.
Book Description
Do you know what it's really like to be a young homeless person? WITH NO DIRECTION HOME: HOMELESS YOUTH ON THE ROAD AND IN THE STREETS takes you into their world, their living conditions, and their street experiences. Plus, it takes a hard look at fictive kin experiences and drug addiction. Learn how to move from compassion to rapport with this incredible ethnography textbook.
Books:
- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Team Spirit)
- The Lost Steps
- The Plot Against America: A Novel
- The Private Lives of the Impressionists
- The Pursuit of Happyness
- The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature
- The Sheltering Sky
- The Sportswriter
- The Terror: A Novel
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar board book
Books Index
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