Editorial Review

Genly Ai is an emissary from the human galaxy to Winter, a lost, stray world. His mission is to bring the planet back into the fold of an evolving galactic civilization, but to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own culture and prejudices and those that he encounters. On a planet where people are of no gender--or both--this is a broad gulf indeed. The inventiveness and delicacy with which Le Guin portrays her alien world are not only unusual and inspiring, they are fundamental to almost all decent science fiction that has been written since. In fact, reading Le Guin again may cause the eye to narrow somewhat disapprovingly at the younger generation: what new ground are they breaking that is not already explored here with greater skill and acumen? It cannot be said, however, that this is a rollicking good story. Le Guin takes a lot of time to explore her characters, the world of her creation, and the philosophical themes that arise.Read more

Reviews (155)

Too cold....the book, not the planet.
First off let me say that I am willing to grant this book two things, regardless of whether or not I enjoyed it:I can tell LeGuin is a great author and I understand why this book won the Hugo and Nebula.The world-building skill illustrated in this book is very impressive.In fact, my favorite parts of the book were the little interspersed "myths".Also, the idea behind the Ekumen was great.The political intrigues on Gethen, while interesting, we kind of hard for me to follow and I just didn't really care.I also didn't come away from this book feeling either way about any of the characters.I realize the narrative in this book introduces itself as Genly's "report" to the Ekumen, but even bearing that in mind while reading it wasn't enough to get me actually enjoying the book.In fact, the only reason I finished it is because I don't like "quitting".Maybe I went into this with inappropriate expectations, but the story and the writing style ultimately just did not draw me in.I will not give up on LeGuin, however.Next I'm going to try some Earthsea books as I hear they're pretty good.

My Favorite Le Guin novel
Out of all of Le Guin's books I've read so far, including the Telling, The Dispossessed,Earthsea, Gifts, Changing Planes, and Coyote Girls, this book was my favorite. Although the Telling and the Dispossed are also achingly good, the stories are a little too political. At times, the messages in them distract you from the story.
A quiet classic
It's hard to believe that this was released in 1969 - it is still as fresh, even urgent, as ever.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Science Fiction    4. Science Fiction - General    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction / Science Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Readers familiar with Barbara Kingsolver will find that Read more

Reviews (80)

worst book i've ever read
This book was required reading for my advanced placement english class. I consider myself a lover of the written word. I dream of someday becoming a novelist, or at least an english teacher. It usually takes me 3-5 days to finish a book, especially a good book. It has taken me 2 months to read this book. It is not only boring, but often times repetetive. Barbara Kingsolver relates everything to September 11th. Granted, this was a tragic day for our country and should always be remembered. But I dont see why Ms. Kingsolver found it necessary to write a whole novel about it. I find even less necessary for this to be required reading. Every once in a while Ms. Kingsolver finds the need to express herself with words that are a little more complicated than need be. It was a less than pleasent read and I wouldnt recommend it to my worst enemy.

A thought-provoking book......a place for reflection and solace.
I agree with the reviewer who cautioned to take this book in small doses.I was moved to tears by the second page, and realized I needed to pace myself.On that second page, Kingsolver was describing the story of a lost child in Iraq (who was found)....her point of view was from the parents of this child, and the heart-wrenching terror they must have felt as the babysitter came running towards them in tears, without their son.This story has an incredible ending, and an incredible message....as does each essay.Some essays are heavy and may provoke thoughts or ideology that makes you uncomfortable, or disagreeable.That is okay.....that is the point of these essays.(As for the reviewer who noted the author's "sexist" remarks - tell me how many women have started a war.Hello?Open your eyes.That is not a sexist statement, it's a fact).If more people would take Kingsolver's gentle, thoughtful manner of considering how our actions affect the global community and our future generations, maybe we could really improve upon our reputation as uncooperative, self-serving, greedy and over-consumptive Americans. Maybe.
Be prepared to leave your baggage at the door...
When you embark on this journey with Ms. Kingsolver, if it doesn't make you squirm, you're not paying attention.
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Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Literary Collections    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Literature: Classics    5. Literary Collections / Essays    6. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (19)

Athletic Shorts
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher is a collection of six short stories revolving around six different characters. More than a mere collection of sports related stories this book looks at everyday situations and problems about teen life. Weight problems, pushy parents, uncomfortable situations, racism, homosexuality and death. Packed into less than 200 pages Crutcher is able to captivate readers through this book with his humor as well as his insights into the young adult mind. My favorite story of the six is "The Other Pin" about a guy named Petey who is "volunteered" by his best friend to wrestle Chris Byers who has a habit of not just beating all opponents but humiliating them in the process. If that wasn't bad enought Chris Byers is also a girl. Though some of Crutcher's stories are emotional and heart wrenching all are worth the read.

Wonderful book
This really is a wonderful collection, one that anyone seeking to understand the mind and actions of a teenage boy or even girl should read. Chris is simple, straightforward, and always fun to read. I'd highly recommend this to any student and even some teachers.

Highly Recommended!
This book is great for introducing children to Gay and Lesbian issues through characters and themes. Athletic Shorts is a collection of stories about athletic boys facing challenges in their lives, including " A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune," about a boy with two sets of gay parents and "In the Time I Get," in which Louie, the main character of Cruther's Running Loose becomes friends with a gay man dying of AIDS. I also recommend Am I Blue? Coming Out from the Silence by Marion Dean Bauer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Short Stories    5. Short stories, American    6. Social Issues - General    7. Sports & Recreation - General    8. Juvenile Fiction / Short Stories   

Reviews (4)

The Best Austen, and Perhaps Simply the Best Novel
One of the major sources of contention and strife in my marriage is the disagreement between my wife and me over what is the best Jane Austen novel (yes, we are both more than a bit geekish in our love of words and literature--our second biggest ongoing quarrel is about the merits of the serial comma).
On Reading Persuasion
At the end of the day, Persuasion is worth reading because it offers a simple hope for how we can live together. Unlike, say Pride and Prejudice, where in the end the characters more collide than marry, the orbits of protagonists Anne and Captain Wentworth eventually come to revolve around each other.
"I have loved none but you."
When Anne Elliot was nineteen she fell in love with Frederick Wentworth, a likeable and decent young man but one without money, position or family connections. A trusted family friend and substitute mother figure, Lady Russell, advised Anne to break off her engagement to Frederick as she felt it would be unwise for Anne to align herself to someone of his less-than-favorable means. Hurt by the rejection, Frederick joined the Navy and now, eight years later, he is Captain Frederick Wentworth, a highly respected naval officer with a large fortune amassed during his years at sea.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Literary    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Motherless families    6. Problem families    7. Rejection (Psychology)    8. 19th century fiction    9. Classic fiction    10. Fiction / Classics    11. Literature/English | British Literature | 19th C   

Reviews (31)

Fantastic!!!
This book is continuation of Tears of a Tiger. Keisha was Andy's girlfriend and now left with rest of her friends Ronda, Tyrone, BJ, Gerald, and Leon to survive without out their two friends Andy and Rob, who both died. Now in her senior year Keisha is selected class president and is having the best year. The principal's 23-year-old son is the new track coach and he has his eye on Keisha. Slowly Keisha begins to find comfort in 23-year-old Jonathan and starts going out with him. Soon the relationship takes a wrong turns when Jonathan takes Keisha to his apartment and tries to rape and kill her with his jack knife.
Painfully Wonderful
There is pain in this book that you hope no one goes through. It follows Keisha after the death of her boyfriend, which is one thing she could've done without and then the near-rape she encounters. (Read TEARS OF A TIGER first.)
Christian's Review
In the book a girl named Keisha has just lost her boyfriend. Andy killed himself because he and his best friends Rob, Tyrone, and B.J were in a car accident. Rob was the only one that didn't make it out of the car and he burned to death. Andy felt that it was his fault so he walked around with all this on his shoulders until he killed himself. Keisha had just broken up with Andy because of all his problems. That summer Keisha took Andy's little brother with her to the cookout. The cookout was something that the high school does every year and the students come and bring their little brothers and sisters. This summer, Keisha saw a guy that she thought was hot, so the summer passed and the new school year came. When she saw him, she acted as if she hadn't noticed him, but she did and she really liked him. At the same time, Leon liked her but she really had not paid any attion to that until one day she gave him a ride home and his dad started to say all this embracing stuff. So the conflict is she has to choose a boy (Leon) or a man (Jonathan).
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Fiction    5. High schools    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Love & Romance    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Rape    10. School & Education    11. Schools    12. Social Issues - Sexual Abuse    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (656)

Nothing but the Truth
The story was about a boy named Philip Malloy and he got suspended for humming during the Natinal Anthem.The teacher Mrs.Narwin had asked him to stop the first time but Philip Malloy refused.I think that Mrs. Narwin should have waited till the end to tell him to stop, but instead she was interupting to.She asked him to stop but he still would'nt do it and finally the third time she asked him she sent him out of the room.Then the principal said that he could either say sorry or get a 2 day suspention.And Philip refused to say sorry so he got a 2 day suspention.They thought that that was a rule but the super adendent saod there was no rule agenst singing during the Natinal Anthem.Then the word got out and then philip got letters from other schools that said about how he could go to their scholl because they have nothing agenst singing.Then Mrs.Narwingot letters that were not true and quit her job and went to live with her sister.

Excellent Young Adult novel
A powerful topic and engaging format. A great read for any young adult.

Not the whole truth
This story isn't really about truth as much as it's about communication and integrity. The problem is that all the characters make multiple unnecessary mistakes and compound the problem, demonstrating only the wrong way to do things and never the right way. I wonder if young readers will understand this? I was amazed to find no positive role models. Even the victimized "heroine," Ms. Narwin, was strangely ineffectual, as were the "heroic" Philip and his parents. And worse, Avi paints with a cynical brush all characters involved in education politics and media. There is nothing profound or thought-provoking in this story; the "good, bad, and ugly" are obvious. Some young readers may benefit from obvious points, and as such this might work as a cautionary tale. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. High schools    7. Historical - General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Schools    10. Social Issues - Values    11. Social Situations - Values    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Values   

Reviews (48)

LEAVE This Book for Another Day
`Angela's clear voice asked behind her, "Do you trust us?""Yes," Dorry mumbled."Are you willing to stake your life to prove it?""Yes," Dorry mumbled again.'
Leaving Fishers
Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix is about an eleventh grade girl named Dorry that feels unbelievably lonely at her new school after moving from a small town like Bryden, Ohio to a large city in Indianapolis.That is, until one day, a girl named Angela invites her to sit with her and her friends.Dorry soon discovers that Angela and her friends are part of a religious group called the Fishers of Men. Overjoyed by her new friends and their compliments toward her, Dorry tries to spend as much time with them as possible.She attends religious services, and parties and in doing so, decides to join their group.Little does she know of their high expectations and their strict beliefs.Dorry finds herself caught up in a twist as she tries to keep herself balanced between Fishers and the life she had before.Will Dorry ever be able to keep up with the Fisher's demand?
Will Dorry be able to leve the Fishers?
Dorry has just moved to North view, she has no friends there and is always alone. One day while Dorry was eating lunch, a girl named Angela comes up and asks Dorry to come and sit by her and all her friends. Dorry does this and soon is always with this group, and they become friends. Later on, Dorry comes to find out that all her friends are in a religious group named The Fishers of Men. Dorry goes to the Fishers retreats, and then becomes a Fisher. She really likes this at first and tries hard to become a better Fisher, but then things start to get rough. The Fishers start aking more and more of Dorry and Dorry cannot do it. Will Dorry be able to leave the Fishers, or will she be stuck forever?
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Religious    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Christian life    4. Cults    5. Fanaticism    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Religious - Christian    9. Religious - General    10. Social Issues - Peer Pressure    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Peer Pressure   

Editorial Review

Preparations for the feast for the Summer of the Golden Rainare underway at Redwall Abbey, and young Mattimeo's mother sets him towork with the other inhabitants. His father, Mathius, is the guardianof Redwall Abbey and it is this fact that puts the young Mattimeo indanger, as the evil Slagar the Fox plots to kidnap him in a bid toshake the very foundations of the Abbey and its inhabitants. Read more

Reviews (216)

Great series
Great series for young and old looking for a mental shut-down for bed book.

Mattimeo! The new champion of Redwall!
Mattimeo is kidnapped by Slagar and his gang along with many other young ones. He is forced to travel to an evil kingdom where he will become a tortured slave forever. But, Mattimeo's father and many other parents are hot on Slagar's trail ready to fight him and any other obstacles that they may encounter.
A wonderful coming of age story and exciting travels into the southern lands. Not the best in the series, but still recommended
The third book in the Redwall series, Mattimeo is the story of Mattimeo, Matthias the Warrior's son, who is captured by a slaver and taken on a long journey far to the south of Mossflower Woods--a journey that will turn him from a youth into a warrior. Slagar the Cruel, a masked fox, is a slaver determined to bring ruin to Redwall and to the warrior Matthias in particular. When he kidnaps Matthias's son, Mattimeo, along with a number of other youngsters from Redwall, it seems that Slagar will achieve his goal. As he forces the slaves on a long march deep into the barren, dangerous southern lands, Matthias and a band of warriors go to rescue their children. In their absence, the Abbey is attacked, leaving the peaceful abbeydwellers to defend it. The three storylines run concurrently, keeping the action moving. Riddles hidden deep within the Abbey bring aid to the rescuing warriors and reveal long-forgotten knowledge about the Abbey's founders. A coming of age story is combined with exploration, riddles, and battle, making for a meaningful, readable story.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals    4. Animals - General    5. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    6. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    8. Children: Grades 4-6    9. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    10. Fantasy    11. Fiction    12. Jacques, Brian    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Mice    15. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    16. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Reviews (67)

Her first novel? You've got to be kidding me!
It just does not seem fair that someone could claim this work as her first novel. It is so intricately woven, and the multiple narratives are so expertly spoken, that I find it very difficult to believe it came from a novice.
A Work of Excellence
Erdrich's book has everything a great novel should have - sex & love, tradegy and heartbreak, beauty and poise. Truly of one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read.

No impressed
Love Medicine was a required reading in my upper division English course in college. I was not impressed at all. The writing style is very good but the story and characters are complete pathetic and miserable. If one doesn't know anything about Native Americans, he would think that they are nothing but alcoholics and losers who didn't have enough gutts to make anything out of their lives despites the hardships that the government bestowed on them. There is not one likable character in the book. Everyone is either an alcoholic, a run away, phsycologically challenged or has children from multiple partners. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Erdrich, Louise - Prose & Criticism    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. General    5. Literary    6. Fiction / General   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Children's audiobooks    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Gangs    7. Hinton, S. E.    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Unabridged Audio - Literature Classics    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (125)

A Long Way from Chicago
Two kids who live in Chicago go to their grandma's for a week every summer. At Grandmas house is a normal old fashion house with a privy out back. But things will happen to the kids that will scar them for life. Grandma is very different from the kids and dose lots of weird stuff in the book. Grandma is a good liar and lies in this book more than you can think of. If you want to find out more and learn what happens to the kids read A Long Way from Chicago.

READ THIS BOOK AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Two kids who live in Chicago go to their grandma's for a week every summer. At Grandmas house is a normal old fashion house with a privy out back. But things will happen to the kids that will scar them for life. Grandma is very different from the kids and dose lots of weird stuff in the book. Grandma is a good liar and lies in this book more than you can think of. If you want to find out more and learn what happens to the kids read A Long Way from Chicago.

A Long Way From Chicago By Richard Peck
Time comes when Joey and Mary Alice must visit their Grandma Dowdel in Illinois. Each year they visit, Grandma Dowdel may be getting older , but is actually growing younger inside. Richard Peck captures special moments of every trip in each chapter.The most memorable chapter for me is called, " The Day ofJudgment".I enjoyed reading this chapter the most, because I think this chapterportrays Grandma Dowdel the best. This book was influential for me, because it had an important moral in it. Peck wanted us to find the true meaningof the book, which is that you're never to old tobe a kid. Richard Peck used the moral of the storyto create one of his important characters-Grandma Dowdel. In the beginning, I thought the Dowdels would be in for the longestmonotonoustrip of their lives. But now I realized I was completely wrong . Every yearturned out better than the previous year. This also tells me that you can never tell a persons heart from the outside. I also learned that I should show more respect to the elderly, because theyhave been throughnumerous experiences. The characters in this book have accents which verifies that it takes place in the past.
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Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Country life    6. Depressions    7. Family - Multigenerational    8. Fiction    9. Grandmothers    10. Historical - United States - 20th Century    11. Humorous Stories    12. Illinois    13. Juvenile Fiction    14. Lifestyles - Country Life    15. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Reviews (9)

Great young adult book
Code Orange kept the attention of my 12 year old daughter who really doesn't like to read.It was on a list of approved books at her school for summer reading, so I was reassured that it would be appropriate for her age.I would recommend it to others of this age group.

Code Orange
Code Orange took a long time for me to get a hold of and it was pretty much worth the wait. I found that this book was very exciting and I enjoyed it very much.
All About Orange Code.
This book takes place in New York City in present time. Mitty is a 15-year-old boy who thinks that life would be so much easier without school. The only reason that he makes himself go is Olivia. Mitty takes advanced biology, and he's not really sure why. His class is assigned to research a infectious disease using books as their textural references. If he does not make a good grade on this test, he'll go back down to regular biology. Mitty would be fine with that, but it would mean not being in Olivia's class. So he decides to do the project. He chooses Variola Major, commonly called smallpox. While researching, Mitty comes upon a envelope stuck in between the pages of a disease book. When he opens it he finds several, what he believes were once smallpox scabs from a 1920 epidemic. As Mitty is writing his paper, he describes what smallpox does to your body. I recommend not reading these parts on a stop-and-go bus ride on the way to school, it only makes it worse. At the end of the chapters, the author tries to scare you by implying that the scabs had gone into his nose, and were affecting Mitty. He himself can not decide if he actually has this disease which he and the rest of the world thought no longer existed, or if he is simply imagining it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Suspense    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Mysteries / Detective    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Diseases    5. Fiction    6. Health & Daily Living - General    7. High schools    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    11. School & Education    12. Schools    13. Smallpox    14. Suspense/Thriller    15. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Reviews (4)

It's the edge of the world as we know it
2006 has been a good year for Newbery sequels.First Louis Sacher comes out with, "Small Steps", his follow-up to "Holes".Then Avi does the same with the second part of his Crispin series."Crispin: At the Edge of the World" begins at the precise moment that "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" ended.Like its predecessor, the book is chock full of intelligent contemplations on the nature of "good" and "evil".More importantly, with this book Avi is taking the time to show that a human being is a tricky changeable thing.That said, this is the weaker of the two books and feels very much to be the middle section of a three part series.There's much to admire in Avi's writing here, but I had a hard time gettingpast some of the story's sadism to truly think it worthy reading.
A rare second book in a trilogy that's better than its predecessor
This is a sequel to Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead. This series is set in the year 1377, during a period of political and social crisis in England. The protagonist is Crispin, a poor orphan. Crispin grew up in a small village, but had to flee due to persecution from the local steward. In the first book he threw in his lot with Bear, a traveling entertainer and father figure.
Richie's Picks: CRISPIN: AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
"What kind of men -- I wondered -- were these that killed by day, drank by night, but prayed each morning?"
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Avi    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Family    7. Family - General    8. Fiction    9. Historical - Medieval    10. Historical Fiction (Young Adult)    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Middle Ages    13. Voyages and travels    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Medieval   

Reviews (83)

I was moved.
This was a fitting completion to the trilogy.Messenger finally brings in the plot elements of The Giver as well as its themes, entwining them with Gathering Blue, so we can see a land where spirit and physical combine into something greater.However, a minor warning:some scenes in this final novel are so gruesome they would be inappropriate for younger readers.
Great follow-up story to the Giver and Gathering Blue
This was a great mysterious tear jerker. It really makes you think. I have read the first two books "The Giver" and "Gathering Blue" so I'm not sure how it would read without having read the first two. I would love to have a 4th story to tie in the characters more.

It is a must NOT read!
I DID NOT LIKE this book. It was sooooo retarted and i would not recommend it to anyone, ever. I had to read it for school and it was very hard to get through it, I'll tell you that. But, it was ok... in that it was better then the other book we had to read and the book we had to read last year. Definetely. I have never read the giver or gathering blue so I can't tell you how it relates to those but if it's like this one, I wouldn't recommend those either. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Community life    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Healers    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Social Issues - Values    10. Utopias    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (55)

The Messianic Era
I first read these books when I was in high school and although
An Excellent Conclusion to the Original Foundation Series
This final installment of Asimov's Original Foundation Series is an excellent, although incomplete ending to a monumental accomplishment by the beloved science fiction author.It is perhaps more beautifully arranged than the others but also lacks some degree of coherence because of its overall twisty-turny plot line.Nevertheless it is an excellent, exciting story which pursues the interrelation between the individual and the whole.